CONTEXT CONTROL BLOCK Meaning and
Definition
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A context control block, also known as a process control block (PCB), is a data structure used by an operating system to manage the execution and control of a process. It stores the necessary information about a process to ensure proper execution and control when the process is rescheduled or interrupted.
A context control block contains several fields that store vital information about a process. These fields typically include the process identifier (PID), which uniquely identifies the process; the process state, which denotes whether the process is ready, running, or blocked; the program counter, which keeps track of the memory location of the next instruction to be executed; and CPU registers, which store the current values of the processor's registers.
Additionally, a context control block may contain fields for storing memory management information, such as the base and limit registers that define the memory space allocated to the process, as well as the open file descriptors, scheduling information, and other necessary data.
When a process is interrupted or scheduled to be executed, the context control block allows the operating system to save and restore the state of the process. This includes saving the current values of CPU registers and program counter and loading the values from the context control block of the next process to be executed. This context switching ensures the preservation of the process's execution state and enables multitasking and efficient resource management within the operating system.
Common Misspellings for CONTEXT CONTROL BLOCK
- xontext control block
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- conrext control block
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- con6ext control block
- con5ext control block
