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The word "fork" has been used to mean "to divide in branches, go separate ways" as early as the 14th century. [2] In the software environment, the word evokes the fork system call, which causes a running process to split itself into two (almost) identical copies that (typically) diverge to perform different tasks.
Fork and its variants are typically the only way of doing so in Unix-like systems. For a process to start the execution of a different program, it first forks to create a copy of itself. Then, the copy, called the " child process ", calls the exec system call to overlay itself with the other program: it ceases execution of its former program in ...
The NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [1] is a reference work maintained by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.It defines a large number of terms relating to algorithms and data structures.
Also simply application or app. Computer software designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for the benefit of the user. Common examples of applications include word processors, spreadsheets, accounting applications, web browsers, media players, aeronautical flight simulators, console games, and photo editors. This contrasts with system software, which is ...
CS—Computer Science; CSE—Computer science and engineering; CSI—Common System Interface; CSM—Compatibility support module; CSMA/CD—Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection; CSP—Cloud service provider; CSP—Communicating sequential processes; CSRF—Cross-site request forgery; CSS—Cascading style sheets; CSS—Content ...
The dictionary incorporates the text of other free resources, such as the Jargon File, as well as covering many other computing-related topics. Due to its availability under the GNU Free Documentation License, a copyleft license, it has in turn been incorporated in whole or part into other free content projects, such as Wikipedia.
Fork (file system), a part of a file in certain filesystems; Fork (software development), when a piece of software or other work is split into two branches or variations of development; Fork (system call), the method whereby a running process creates a new process; Fork (blockchain), a split of the blockchain into two chains or a protocol change
Names of many computer terms, especially computer applications, often relate to the function they perform, e.g., a compiler is an application that compiles (programming language source code into the computer's machine language). However, there are other terms with less obvious origins, which are of etymological interest.