Question

Process (in Operating System) is a:

• A. reusable resource
• B. variable timer
• C. program in execution
• D. allocation and de-allocation of memory

Hint:

Distinguish between a program and a process. A program is a static file on a disk (e.g., `chrome.exe`). A process is what is created in memory when you run that program. You can have multiple processes of the same program running simultaneously.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Analyze the definition of a process. 
In computer science, a program is a passive collection of instructions. A process is the active instance of a computer program that is being executed by one or more threads. It contains the program code and its activity.

Step 2: Evaluate the given options. 
(A) A reusable resource is hardware (like a printer) or software (like a library) that can be used by multiple processes, but it is not the process itself. 

(B) A variable timer is a mechanism used for scheduling or managing time within the OS, but it is not a process. 

(C) "Program in execution" is the standard definition of a process. It represents the dynamic execution of a program's code. 

(D) Allocation and de-allocation of memory are functions performed by the operating system's memory manager, often on behalf of a process, but this is an action, not the process itself. 

Conclusion: The correct definition is a program in execution.