User Level Threads and Kernel Level Signals

These flashcards cover key concepts related to user level and kernel level threads, signals, and their handling mechanisms as discussed in the lecture.

User Level Thread

A thread that is managed by a user-level library rather than the operating system.

Kernel Level Thread

A thread that is managed by the operating system's kernel.

Signal Mask

A mask that determines whether a particular signal is blocked or allowed for a process or thread.

System Call

A mechanism for a program to request a service from the operating system's kernel.

Library Handling Routine

A routine that manages thread signals and masks within the user-level threading library.

Signal Handling

The process of responding to signals by executing signal handlers.

Critical Portion of Code

A section of code that must be executed without interruption to ensure data integrity.

Signal Delivery

The process of sending a signal to a thread or process to indicate an event that needs attention.

Optimizing the Common Case

The design principle of making the most frequent scenario efficient, while allowing less common scenarios to be more complex.

Threading Library

A library that provides functions for creating and managing threads.