ZOMBIE PROCESS

Domain	Definition
Computing	Zombie process (Or "defunct process") A Unix process that has terminated (either because it has been killed by a signal or because it has called exit()) and whose parent process has not yet received notification of its termination by executing (some form of) the wait() system call. A zombie process exists solely as a process table entry and consumes no other resources. This entry is retained to hold the child's exit status until the parent process wants to retrieve it. The parent can also be notified asynchronously via a signal of the child's termination. Zombie processes can be seen in "ps" listings occasionally (with a status "Z" in some versions). Compare orphan process. (1997-10-08). Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Specialty Definition: Zombie process

A zombie process is a term in computing for a process that exists but which has completed execution. When a zombie process cannot be destroyed it is usually because it is the parent of one or more child processes. Conversely, a child process might be a zombie because the parent has already died, but has not cleaned up after itself.

The term zombie process comes from the Unix operating system. It takes its meaning from the common definition of zombie--an undead person. In Unix, the most common cause of a zombie is where the process has exited, but its parent process has not yet done a "wait" system call for it. The book-keeping information for the zombie has to be retained so it can eventually be supplied to the parent when it does "wait". Typically, zombies that exist for more than a short period of time indicate a bug somewhere. The kind of zombie mentioned in the first paragraph does not occur in Unix and similar systems.

Frequency of Internet Keywords: ZOMBIE PROCESS

Anagrams: ZOMBIE PROCESS

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "b-c-e-e-i-m-o-o-p-r-s-s-z"
	-3 letters: borescopes, recomposes.
	-4 letters: bioscopes, borescope, composers, comprises, comprizes, cooperies, coreopsis, proboscis, promisees, recompose, reimposes, ribosomes, sierozems, soberizes, zoosperms.
	-5 letters: becrimes, bicepses, bioscope, boresome, bromizes, compeers, comperes, composer, composes, compress, comprise, comprize, embosser, emprises, emprizes, episomes, imposers, impreses, microbes, moperies, oosperms, precises, premises, promisee, promises, recopies, reimpose, ribosome, scoopers, semipros, sierozem, soberize, spiremes, zoosperm.
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