foreground
(Unix) On a time-sharing system, a task executing in foreground is one able to
accept input from and return output to the user in contrast to one running in
the background. Nowadays this term is primarily associated with Unix, but it
appears first to have been used in this sense on OS/360. Normally, there is only
one foreground task per terminal (or terminal window). Having multiple processes
simultaneously reading the keyboard is confusing.
[Jargon File]
(1994-10-24)
Nearby terms:
Force « ForceOne « ForceTwo « foreground »
foreign key » Foresight » for free
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