multithreading
n.n. a computer's ability to run different parts of a single program at the same time. This makes software work faster and more efficiently by doing several tasks at once.
n. the execution of multiple parts of a single process, known as threads, concurrently by a central processing unit. This technique allows for more efficient resource utilisation by overlapping input/output operations with computational tasks.
Modern web browsers use multithreading to load several images at once.
The video editing software relies on multithreading to render high-definition frames while keeping the user interface responsive.
Efficient multithreading requires careful synchronisation to prevent race conditions, where two threads attempt to modify the same memory location simultaneously, leading to unpredictable system crashes.
A compound formed from the Latin prefix multi-, meaning many, and the computing sense of thread, referring to a sequence of instructions. The term emerged as a development of multitasking to describe concurrent execution within a single process.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated July 22, 2026