Answer to Question #83167 in Software Engineering for Danish

Question

What is the difference between single tasking OS and multi tasking OS?

Answer 1

The main difference is that single tasking OS can run only one task at a time, while multitasking OS able to run multiple tasks simultaneously.

Note that it doesn't depend on physical number of CPU units (both OS can work on computer with any number of CPU units).

Nowadays multi tasking OS is mostly used (e.g. linux, windows). It's hard to find single tasking OS among modern technologies. Even old mobile phones uses multi tasking approach (e.g. making outgoing call and receiving incoming SMS in same time).