What is the Difference Between a Process and an Application?

[Ketchup]

I was looking in Task Manager and was thinking: why do I have all these things running (MSE, Search Indexer, Asus AI Suite, etc) yet I have no "applications" running?

And that got me thinking: what's the difference?

Wikipedia kind-of explains it here:

A process-driven application is a software application that is driven by an underlying process or workflow engine where the process can be exposed and reused. In effect all applications are process-driven and the logic of any application can be extrapolated into a flowchart to represent the logical process of execution. Process-driven applications are a growing trend in enterprise solutions involving humans, systems or both.

and here:

A workflow engine is a software application that manages business processes. It is a key component in workflow technology and typically makes use of a database server.

So can I think of a process as an underlying application that is needed for other applications to run properly?

Or are they more-different than I am giving them credit?

 

[Ichinisan]

In Task Manager terminology, an application is typically just a process that has a visible window or dialog. Basically, anything that would appear in your Alt+Tab switcher (even those with no taskbar button). Lots of processes exist as background processes with no visible window associated, so these are not listed in the Task Manager's Applications tab. When a background process spawns a visible window through the Windows API, that window appears in the Applications tab of the Task Manager.

So, in Task Manager, every "application" is associated with a process, but not every process is associated with an "application."

In a different sense (disassociated from Task Manager), an application doesn't necessarily need to have a visible window. A process is a running instance of an application program. In some cases, you can have multiple instances, of a single application (like notepad.exe or calc.exe). However, in Task Manager terminology, each instance will appear as a process and as an application.

 

[Carson Dyle]

From what I can tell, as listed in Task Manager, applications only include programs launched interactively by the logged-in user.

That would exclude things like Windows services, programs launched by the scheduler, DLLs, and any other processes that were spawned by applications, services or the operating system itself.

 

[Ketchup]

In Task Manager terminology, an application is typically just a process that has a visible window or dialog. Basically, anything that would appear in your Alt+Tab switcher (even those with no taskbar button). Lots of processes exist as background processes with no visible window associated, so these are not listed in the Task Manager's Applications tab. When a background process spawns a visible window through the Windows API, that window appears in the Applications tab of the Task Manager.

So, in Task Manager, every "application" is associated with a process, but not every process is associated with an "application."

In a different sense (disassociated from Task Manager), an application doesn't necessarily need to have a visible window. A process is a running instance of an application program. In some cases, you can have multiple instances, of a single application (like notepad.exe or calc.exe). However, in Task Manager terminology, each instance will appear as a process and as an application.

Good way of putting it, thank you.

 

[sm625]

Applications are simply processes that include an "icon" on your task bar. (It's not exactly an icon, its more like a bar I guess, not to be confused with actual icons pinned on your task bar.) If the program can be minimized to the system tray, then it will disappear from both the task bar and the Applications list when sent to the system tray.

 

[Ketchup]

Applications are simply processes that include an "icon" on your task bar. (It's not exactly an icon, its more like a bar I guess, not to be confused with actual icons pinned on your task bar.) If the program can be minimized to the system tray, then it will disappear from both the task bar and the Applications list when sent to the system tray.

I have no idea what you are trying to say here. I don't know if you are trying to be overly simplistic, or just don't know how this works. Which is fine, we are all wanting to learn here.

One thing I will correct is that a running application will show in task manager, whether it is on the screen or minimized to the taskbar.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Think of processes like apartments, or offices within an office building. Think of .DLLs as the furniture, and threads as the people in the office. An application is like a company, that rents an office, orders particular furniture, and hires workers to work there.

 

[Ichinisan]

Think of processes like apartments, or offices within an office building. Think of .DLLs as the furniture, and threads as the people in the office. An application is like a company, that rents an office, orders particular furniture, and hires workers to work there.

An apartment containing furniture would be like a process containing a DLL?

Nah.

 

[Ichinisan]

I have no idea what you are trying to say here. I don't know if you are trying to be overly simplistic, or just don't know how this works. Which is fine, we are all wanting to learn here.

One thing I will correct is that a running application will show in task manager, whether it is on the screen or minimized to the taskbar.

Yup. Some dialogs that don't have a taskbar button still appear in the Alt+Tab task switcher and also in Task Manager's "applications" list. Example: The device properties screen for anything in Device Manager.

So the list is basically just any running window you can switch to with Alt+Tab (even minimized or obscured windows).

If you choose "switch to" or double-click an item in the Task Manager applications list, it does the same thing as clicking that window to bring it to the front or using Alt+Tab to select it (basically just setting the z-order to 0 and giving focus to that window).

I occasionally have a z-order problem where a modal dialog appears behind the window that spawned it, so I have to alt+tab to another window and alt+tab back again. Suddenly, the modal dialog box comes to the front and I can dismiss it or make a choice.

 

[Ketchup]

I occasionally have a z-order problem where a modal dialog appears behind the window that spawned it, so I have to alt+tab to another window and alt+tab back again. Suddenly, the modal dialog box comes to the front and I can dismiss it or make a choice.

Those are annoying, aren't they. They mainly happen to me at work, where they are on an unexpected screen, or hiding behind a VM when I am in unity mode. Alt+tab is quite a help here. I appreciate your input Ichinisan.

VL, you brought DLL's into the discussion, and I am not going to knock you for it. I am not a programmer (obviously) so I am still trying to grasp those. I don't know that the apartment analogy helped, to be honest. Had a long day, so I may have to save those for another time, but I would like to understand those better.

 

[lxskllr]

I think it's analogous to *nix daemons. Wikipedia explains them clearly...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(computing)

 

[ArisVer]

I occasionally have a z-order problem where a modal dialog appears behind the window that spawned it, so I have to alt+tab to another window and alt+tab back again. Suddenly, the modal dialog box comes to the front and I can dismiss it or make a choice.

Another plus on this one, and thanks for the nice information on the topic.

 

[John Connor]

I think it's analogous to *nix daemons. Wikipedia explains them clearly...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_(computing)

Daemon: When you click a Wikipedia link and start clicking other links. Daemon.

 

[CZroe]

An application is like a digestive system. The processes are like the stomach, intestines, lower intestines, etc. The threads are the worms infesting your digestive system. A memory leak is like IBS. A BSOD is when you crap your pants. SMP is like a cow with four stomachs. NX bit is like symbiotic bacteria keeping parts of memory/digestive ecosystem in check. The operating system is your body. The mouth is the disc drive. The fat is the storage. A stroke is when your water cooling setup springs a leak and soaks everything.

I should illustrate this.

 

[Ketchup]

An application is like a digestive system....

Hi CZroe. I was wondering when the brother would stop by.

Demonstration not necessary, lol.