What is a time slice in terms of CPU execution?

A time slice refers to a very short interval of time allocated to a process in the context of CPU execution. This concept is integral to scheduling in operating systems, particularly in preemptive multitasking environments.

When a CPU is shared among multiple processes, each process is given a time slice, which allows it to run for a brief period before the CPU switches to another process. This approach ensures that all active processes receive a fair share of CPU time, thus improving responsiveness and overall system performance. The short duration of the time slice allows for quick context switching, which minimizes the time each process waits for CPU access and helps maintain a smooth user experience.

In essence, by using time slices, an operating system can efficiently manage multiple processes concurrently while giving users the impression that they are running simultaneously, even though only one process is actively using the CPU at any given moment.