---
title: "What is Process Synchronization in Operating System? Explain with an example."  
description: "What is Process Synchronization in Operating System? Explain with an example."  
author: "Revati S Misra"  
published: 2023-03-27  
updated: 2023-03-27  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/157589/what-is-process-synchronization-in-operating-system-explain-with-an-example  
category: "Operating System"  
tags: ["windows", "operating system"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# What is Process Synchronization in Operating System? Explain with an example.

What is [Process](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/1525/7-important-factors-that-may-affect-the-learning-process) [Synchronization](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/11983/synchronization-in-c-sharp) in [Operating System](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/229069/operating-system-development)? [Explain](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/157854/what-is-system-debugging-explain-some-system-debugging-tools-used-in-modern-computer-systems) with an example.

## Replies

### Reply by Krishnapriya Rajeev

In an operating [system](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23411/the-most-effective-method-to-find-the-perfect-small-business-phone-system-for-your-business), *process synchronization* refers to the coordination of multiple processes or threads that share a common resource, such as memory or I/O devices. It preserves the order of execution of corporate processes. It also ensures that these processes or threads do not interfere with each other and that they access shared resources in a *mutually exclusive* and *coordinated manner*.

An example of process synchronization is the implementation of a shared resource, such as a printer, by multiple processes or threads. If two or more processes or threads try to access the printer at the same time, the output becomes erroneous, and the printer may become jammed. To avoid such conflicts, we use *locks, semaphores,* and *monitors.*

For example, let Process A and Process B share a printer. To avoid conflicts, the operating system might implement a semaphore to ensure that only one process can access the printer at a time. Process A might request the semaphore and gain access to the printer, while Process B is blocked until the semaphore is released by Process A. Process B gets access to the printer only once Process A has finished using the printer. This enables the operating system to ensure that multiple processes or threads can run concurrently without interfering with each other or causing errors.


---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/157589/what-is-process-synchronization-in-operating-system-explain-with-an-example

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.