Cooperative multitasking

Cooperative multitasking, also known as non-preemptive multitasking, is a <a href="/facts/Computer_multitasking/Q4acPNMv">computer multitasking</a> technique in which the <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> never initiates a <a href="/facts/Context_switch/N0oJQ6CC">context switch</a> from a running <a href="/facts/Process_(computing)/Vcq7EnUV">process</a> to another process. Instead, in order to run multiple applications concurrently, processes voluntarily <a href="/facts/Yield_(multithreading)/eUxCcIyK">yield control</a> periodically or when idle or logically <a href="/facts/Blocking_(computing)/6vvBpp7A">blocked</a>. This type of multitasking is called cooperative because all programs must cooperate for the scheduling scheme to work. 
In this scheme, the <a href="/facts/Process_scheduler/XptmcM1a">process scheduler</a> of an operating system is known as a cooperative scheduler whose role is limited to starting the processes and letting them return control back to it voluntarily.
This is related to the <a href="/facts/Asynchrony_(computer_programming)/1cwyNFMu">asynchronous programming</a> approach.

Cooperative multitasking open-in-new

Cooperative multitasking