child process

child process

   <operating system> A {process} created by another process (the
   {parent process}).  Each process may create many child
   processes but will have only one parent process, except for
   the very first process which has no parent.  The first
   process, called {init} in {Unix}, is started by the {kernel}
   at {boot time} and never terminates.  A child process inherits
   most of its attributes, such as open files, from its parent.
   In fact in Unix, a child process is created (using {fork}) as
   a copy of the parent.  The chid process can then overlay
   itself with a different program (using {exec}) as required.

   (1997-11-22)