How does an operating system handle process creation?

An operating system handles process creation through a series of steps including program loading, memory allocation, and context setting.

The process of creating a new process in an operating system is a complex one that involves several steps. The first step is the loading of the program into memory. This is done by the operating system's loader, which reads the program from disk and loads it into memory. The loader also sets up the initial stack and heap for the process.

Next, the operating system allocates memory for the process. This is done by the memory manager, which keeps track of which parts of memory are currently in use and which are free. The memory manager allocates a block of memory for the new process and updates its records to reflect this.

Once the program is loaded into memory and the memory has been allocated, the operating system sets up the context for the new process. This includes setting up the process control block (PCB), which contains information about the process such as its state, priority, and memory allocation. The PCB is used by the operating system to manage the process.

The operating system also sets up the registers for the new process. These include the program counter, which keeps track of where in the program the process is currently executing, and the stack pointer, which points to the top of the process's stack in memory.

Finally, the operating system starts the new process running. This is done by the scheduler, which decides when each process gets to run. The scheduler sets the state of the new process to 'running' and transfers control to it.

In summary, the operating system handles process creation by loading the program into memory, allocating memory for the process, setting up the context for the process, and starting the process running. Each of these steps is handled by a different part of the operating system, and each plays a crucial role in the creation of a new process.