The computer user generally works in a multi tasking environment . For example the user might simultaneously open two or more ms word document or open multiple web pages in a browser .
Each of this open document represent a process . The OS initiates the program execution by loading an executable copy of the program into the main memory RAM .
In other words , In computing , a process is an instance of a computer program that is being currently executed . Each open MS word document active in the system memory represents an instance of program .
A typical computer program consist of number of program instructions . During the program execution , the OS allocates resources and the CPU starts executing these program instructions.
A process is the actual execution of these program instructions when Operating System allocates the resources ( Memory and processor time ) . The OS handles several processes running simultaneously and associated with the same program .
For Example : A user may working on number of MS word documents simultaneously .