What is the difference between concurrent and parallel processing?

What is the difference between concurrent and parallel processing?

Concurrent processing refers to the ability of a system to handle multiple tasks at the same time, but not necessarily simultaneously. In contrast, parallel processing involves executing multiple tasks simultaneously, often using multiple processors.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! An example of concurrent processing is a single-core CPU managing multiple tasks by switching between them quickly. An example of parallel processing is a multi-core CPU running several tasks at the same time, each on a different core.

Which one is more efficient?

It depends on the context. Parallel processing is generally more efficient for tasks that can be divided into smaller, independent sub-tasks, while concurrent processing is better for tasks that require frequent interaction or are I/O-bound.

Are there any programming languages that support these concepts?

Yes, many programming languages support both concepts. For example, Python has libraries like asyncio for concurrent programming and multiprocessing for parallel processing.