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Difference between Swapping and Context Switching

In this article, you will learn the difference between Swapping and Context Switching. But before discussing the differences, you must know about Swapping and Context switching.

What is Swapping?

It is a memory management method in which the processes are switched from the RAM to the secondary memory. It’s done so that the RAM can be freed up to execute other tasks. It is used to increase the utilization of main memory. The location where the swapped-out memories are stored in the memory is called swap space.

It’s only used when the data isn’t in the main memory. Although the swapping technique affects the system’s performance, it also helps run multiple and larger processes. Swapping is also known as memory compaction.

Swapping is divided into two parts which are;

1. Swap-in
2. Swap-out

Swap-in

It refers to removing the program process from a hard disk and placing it back in the RAM.

Swap-out

It refers to removing a process from the RAM and putting it on the hard disk.

Advantages and disadvantages of swapping

There are various advantages and disadvantages of swapping. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of swapping are as follows:

Advantages

1. It is economical.
2. The swapping technique is primarily used to help the CPU manage several tasks within a single main memory.
3. It may be easily applied to priority-based scheduling to increase its performance.
4. The CPU may execute multiple tasks simultaneously using the swapping technique. So, the processes don’t need to wait before their execution.

Disadvantages

1. There may occur inefficiency if a resource or variable is frequently used by the processes involved in the swapping process.

2. If the computer system loses power during a period of high swapping activity, the user may lose all of the data related to the program.
3. If the swapping technique is not good, the overall method may increase the number of page faults and reduce processing performance.

What is Context Switching?

It is the switching of the CPU from one process to another process. Context Switching is the process of storing a process’s context or state so that it may be reloaded when needed, and execution may be resumed from the same point as earlier. It is a feature of the multitasking operating system, and it allows a single CPU to be shared by several processes.

Advantages and disadvantages of Context Switching

There are various advantages and disadvantages of context switching. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of context switching are as follows:

Advantages

1. It is used to achieve multitasking, i.e., multiprogramming with time-sharing.
2. In context switching, multitasking provides users the impression that one process is running at the same time.
3. The context switching is so quick that the user feels the CPU is performing many tasks at the same time.

Disadvantages

1. It takes less time to context switching.
2. The time it takes to move from one process to another is pure overhead.

Main Differences between the Swapping and Context Switching

Here, you will learn the main differences between Swapping and Context Switching. Various differences between Swapping and Context Switching are as follows:

1. Swapping is the technique of replacing the complete process. On the other hand, Context Switching is the process of storing a process’s context or state so that it may be reloaded when needed, and execution may be resumed from the same point as earlier.
2. Swapping offers a significantly high level of multiprogramming. On the other hand, context switching provides a higher degree of multitasking.
3. Swapping helps to get better memory utilization. On the other hand, context switching helps in making better use of the OS.
4. Swapping is an operating system term that refers to data exchange between the disk and main memory. On the other hand, the context switch switches the process from running to the ready state, and the dispatcher is responsible for assigning CPU resources to processes in the ready queue.
5. Swapping occurs when the complete process is moved to the disk. On the other hand, a context switch happens when the kernel switches contexts and passes CPU control from one process to another in a run state.

Head-to-head Comparison between Swapping and Context Switching

Here, you will learn the head-to-head comparison between Swapping and Context Switching. The main differences between Swapping and Context Switching are as follows:

Swapping	Context Switching
It is the technique of replacing the complete process.	It is the process of storing a process’s context or state so that it may be reloaded when needed, and execution may be resumed from the same point as earlier.
It is an operating system term that refers to swapping data between the RAM and hard disk.	It switches the process from running to the ready state, and the dispatcher is responsible for assigning CPU resources to processes in the ready queue.
Swapping offers a significantly high level of multiprogramming.	It offers a higher degree of multitasking.
It occurs when the complete process is moved to the disk.	It happens when the kernel switches contexts and passes CPU control from one process to another in a run state.
Swapping helps to get better memory utilization.	It aids in making better use of the OS.
Inactive processes perform swapping.	Active processes perform context switching.
It deals with memory, specifically, how much memory is being swapped in the system.	A context switch determines the pause mode of a process.

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