What are the differences between multithreading and multiprocessing in C++?

What are the differences between multithreading and multiprocessing in C++?

Multithreading involves multiple threads within a single process, sharing the same memory space, while multiprocessing uses multiple processes, each with its own memory space. This leads to different performance and resource management characteristics.

Can you explain the advantages of each approach?

Sure! Multithreading is generally more efficient in terms of memory usage and context switching, making it faster for tasks that require frequent communication. Multiprocessing, on the other hand, provides better isolation and stability since processes do not share memory, reducing the risk of data corruption.

Which one should I use for a CPU-bound task?

For CPU-bound tasks, multiprocessing is often preferred because it can take full advantage of multiple CPU cores, allowing for true parallel execution.

What about I/O-bound tasks?

For I/O-bound tasks, multithreading is usually more effective since it allows other threads to run while one thread is waiting for I/O operations to complete.