What does process management entail in an operating system?

Process management in an operating system is primarily concerned with allocating memory to processes and controlling their execution. This involves managing the lifecycle of processes, which includes their creation, scheduling, execution, and termination.

In detail, when a process is created, the operating system allocates memory for it, ensuring that it has the necessary resources to run. Additionally, the operating system is responsible for scheduling processes, which determines the order and time slices for execution on the CPU. It also manages concurrent processes to ensure that they do not interfere with each other and that system resources are utilized efficiently.

This function is crucial for multitasking environments where multiple processes may be running simultaneously. Proper process management ensures that all applications operate smoothly and that system performance is optimized.

Other options focus on different aspects of operating systems. For example, controlling the flow of data between applications relates to communication between processes, which is a part of inter-process communication rather than core process management. Maintaining backup copies of user files addresses data protection and storage management rather than process execution, and providing antivirus solutions pertains to system security rather than the management of processes. Each of these plays an important role in the overall functioning of an operating system, but they are not specifically part of process management.