Program vs. Process: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 4, 2024
A program is a set of instructions written to perform a specific task, whereas a process is an instance of a program being executed by a computer.
Key Differences
A program is essentially a collection of instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task. A process, in contrast, is what occurs when a computer executes these instructions from a program.
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Feb 04, 2024
Programs are static, existing as code written in a programming language. Processes are dynamic, representing the actual execution of these programs in a computer's memory.
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When a program runs, it becomes a process, which means a single program can be run multiple times as separate processes. Each process has its own memory space, independent of the program from which it originated.
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Programs are created and edited by programmers, and remain unchanged until they are updated. Processes are created by the operating system when a program is run and cease to exist once the program has finished executing.
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Programs can be shared and reused in different contexts. Processes, being specific executions of these programs, are unique to each instance and cannot be directly shared or reused.
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Comparison Chart
Multiplicity
One program can lead to multiple instances
Each instance is a separate process
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Creator and Control
Created by programmers, unchanged during run
Created and managed by the operating system
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Reuse and Sharing
Can be shared and reused
Unique to each execution, not directly reusable
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Program and Process Definitions
Program
A set of planned actions for a particular aim.
The university introduced a new program for international students.
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Process
A natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes.
The process of erosion shaped the landscape.
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Program
A detailed proposal for a project.
The team developed a program for the new marketing campaign.
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Jan 24, 2024
Process
A series of steps taken to achieve a particular end.
The hiring process involves several interviews.
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Program
A listing of the order of events and other pertinent information for a public presentation.
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Process
A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result
The process of digestion.
The process of obtaining a driver's license.
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Process
A series of operations performed in the making or treatment of a product
A manufacturing process.
Leather dyed during the tanning process.
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Program
An ordered list of events to take place or procedures to be followed; a schedule
A program of physical therapy for a convalescent.
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Process
The use of the law courts and other fora as a means of seeking redress
The adversarial process.
Due process of law.
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Program
A system of services, opportunities, or projects, usually designed to meet a social need
"Working parents rely on the center's after-school latchkey program" (New York Times).
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Process
The set of actions and events that constitute a legal proceeding or a significant portion thereof
The trial process.
The sentencing process.
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Process
(Law) A means of compelling a person to appear in court, especially a summons ordering a defendant to appear in court.
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Program
A plan or system of academic and related or ancillary activities
A work-study program.
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Program
A plan or system of nonacademic extracurricular activities
The football program.
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Program
A set of coded instructions that enables a machine, especially a computer, to perform a desired sequence of operations.
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Process
A part of a running software program or other computing operation that does a single task.
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Program
A characteristic sequence of developmental or behavioral events in a cell or organism, often considered to result from the expression of genes.
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Process
To put through the steps of a prescribed procedure
Processing newly arrived immigrants.
Process an order.
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Program
A stimulus or training sequence that causes an organism to exhibit a behavior, as by conditioning.
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Process
To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process
Process ore to obtain minerals.
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Program
To include or schedule in a program
Program a new musical composition.
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Process
To gain an understanding or acceptance of; come to terms with
Processed the traumatic event in therapy.
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Program
To stimulate or train to perform automatically in a specified way
Consumers who have been programmed to buy brand names.
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Process
To move along in a procession
"The man in the panama hat offered his arm and ... they processed into the dining room" (Anita Brookner).
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Program
To prepare an instructional sequence for (material to be taught) in programmed instruction.
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Program
To provide (a cell or organism, for example) with a genetic program
Cells that are programmed to produce insulin.
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Process
Made by or used in any of several photomechanical or photoengraving processes
A process print.
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Program
To cause (an effect or action) by means of a genetic program; determine genetically
"The basic housekeeping duties that a human and a yeast cell must perform are the same and are programmed by recognizably similar genes inherited from a common, single-celled ancestor" (Nicholas Wade).
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Process
A series of events which produce a result (the product).
This product of last month's quality standards committee is quite good, even though the process was flawed.
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Program
A set of structured activities.
Our program for today’s exercise class includes swimming and jogging.
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Process
(manufacturing) A set of procedures used to produce a product, most commonly in the food and chemical industries.
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Program
A leaflet listing information about a play, game or other activity.
The program consisted of ads for restaurants and the credits of everyone connected with the play.
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Program
(politics) A set of principle goals which are supported by a political party or individual candidate
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Process
(anatomy) Successive physiological responses to keep or restore health.
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Program
(broadcasting) A performance of a show or other broadcast on radio or television.
Tonight’s program was hosted by Johnny Carson.
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Process
(legal) Documents issued by a court in the course of a lawsuit or action at law, such as a summons, mandate, or writ.
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Program
(computing) A software application, or a collection of software applications, designed to perform a specific task.
The program runs on both Linux and Microsoft Windows.
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Program
(transitive) To enter a program or other instructions into (a computer or other electronic device) to instruct it to do a particular task.
He programmed the DVR to record his favorite show.
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Program
(transitive) To develop (software) by writing program code.
I programmed a small game as a demonstration.
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Program
(transitive) To put together the schedule of an event.
Mary will program Tuesday’s festivities.
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Program
(broadcasting) To schedule the programming; to determine what will be broadcast.
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Process
(transitive) To retrieve, store, classify, manipulate, transmit etc. (data, signals, etc.), especially using computer techniques.
We have processed the data using our proven techniques, and have come to the following conclusions.
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Program
(transitive) To cause to automatically behave in a particular way.
The lab rat was programmed to press the lever when the bell rang.
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Process
To think about a piece of information, or a concept, in order to assimilate it, and perhaps accept it in a modified state.
I didn't know she had a criminal record. That will take me a while to process.
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Program
A system of projects or services intended to meet a public need;
He proposed an elaborate program of public works
Working mothers rely on the day care program
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Program
A series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished;
They drew up a six-step plan
They discussed plans for a new bond issue
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Program
(computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute;
The program required several hundred lines of code
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Process
The act of proceeding; continued forward movement; procedure; progress; advance.
The thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns.
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Program
An integrated course of academic studies;
He was admitted to a new program at the university
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Process
A series of actions, motions, or occurrences; progressive act or transaction; continuous operation; normal or actual course or procedure; regular proceeding; as, the process of vegetation or decomposition; a chemical process; processes of nature.
Tell her the process of Antonio's end.
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Program
A performance (or series of performances) at a public presentation;
The program lasted more than two hours
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Process
Any marked prominence or projecting part, especially of a bone; anapophysis.
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Program
A document stating the aims and principles of a political party;
Their candidate simply ignored the party platform
They won the election even though they offered no positive program
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Process
The whole course of proceedings in a cause real or personal, civil or criminal, from the beginning to the end of the suit; strictly, the means used for bringing the defendant into court to answer to the action; - a generic term for writs of the class called judicial.
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Program
An announcement of the events that will occur as part of a theatrical or sporting event;
You can't tell the players without a program
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Process
A particular course of action intended to achieve a result;
The procedure of obtaining a driver's license
It was a process of trial and error
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Process
A sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states;
Events now in process
The process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls
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Process
(psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents;
The process of thinking
The cognitive operation of remembering
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Program
A set of coded instructions for a computer.
She wrote a program to automate the data analysis.
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Process
A writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant
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Program
A planned series of events or activities.
The theater's program for the season includes four plays.
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Process
A mental process that you are not directly aware of;
The process of denial
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Program
A broadcast on television or radio.
My favorite program airs every Friday night.
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Process
A natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant;
A bony process
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Process
Deal with in a routine way;
I'll handle that one
Process a loan
Process the applicants
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Process
Subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition;
Process cheese
Process hair
Treat the water so it can be drunk
Treat the lawn with chemicals
Treat an oil spill
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Process
Perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information;
The results of the elections were still being processed when he gave his acceptance speech
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Process
Institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against;
He was warned that the district attorney would process him
She actioned the company for discrimination
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Process
Shape, form, or improve a material;
Work stone into tools
Process iron
Work the metal
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Process
Deliver a warrant or summons to someone;
He was processed by the sheriff
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Process
A series of actions conducted in a certain order.
The process of making coffee starts with grinding the beans.
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Process
A method involved in the making of something.
The manufacturing process ensures high quality.
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Process
A legal procedure or series of actions.
The legal process can be lengthy and complex.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a process in computing?
In computing, a process is an instance of a computer program that is being executed.
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What is a computer program?
A computer program is a set of instructions written in a programming language to perform a specific task.
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Can a program run without becoming a process?
No, a program must be executed as a process to run.
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Are programs and processes the same in computing?
No, a program is the code, while a process is the execution of that code.
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How do programs become processes?
Programs become processes when they are executed by a computer's operating system.
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Can two processes share the same memory space?
Generally, each process has its own separate memory space, though there are exceptions.
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Are programs and processes only related to computers?
In the context of computing, yes, but both terms have broader meanings outside computing.
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Can a program be edited while it is running as a process?
No, a program cannot be edited while it is running; it must be stopped and restarted.
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How are programs distributed?
Programs can be distributed as source code or compiled binaries.
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Can one program create multiple processes?
Yes, a single program can be executed multiple times, creating multiple processes.
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Does a process exist before a program runs?
No, a process comes into existence when a program starts running.
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Can a process affect other processes?
Yes, processes can interact and affect each other in a computing environment.
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Is a program always written in a programming language?
Yes, programs are written in various programming languages.
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How do operating systems manage processes?
Operating systems manage processes through scheduling, resource allocation, and process termination.
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Are programs only used for computational tasks?
No, programs can be used for a wide range of tasks beyond computation.
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Is a process visible to the user?
Some processes are visible as applications, while others run in the background unseen.
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Are all computer programs interactive?
No, some programs run in the background without user interaction.
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Can the same program run on different operating systems?
A program may need to be modified or recompiled to run on different operating systems.
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Can a process continue after its program ends?
No, a process ends when its program finishes executing.
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Do all processes require user input?
Not all processes require user input; some run automatically.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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