Context Switching: How One CPU Runs Many Programs
When process A has to wait for the disk, does the CPU just sit idle? No — it switches to a completely different process. This is called context switching, and it's the core idea behind multitasking.
In this video, you'll learn:
→ What context switching is and why it happens
→ How the CPU saves process state using the PCB (Process Control Block)
→ The role of the kernel stack vs. user stack
→ How the scheduler decides which process runs next
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:17 Context Switching
00:23 Example: Process A → B
00:54 Scheduler Decision
01:20 Saving Process State (PCB)
02:03 Loading Process B
02:18 Multitasking Idea
02:34 Next: When CPU Switches
This is part of the Operating Systems series on 8BrightBits.
▶ Previous video: System Calls Explained
Subscribe to catch the next video — we're covering when and why the CPU decides to switch.
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