What is multithreading in computing?

Multithreading in computing refers to the ability to execute multiple threads concurrently within a single process. Threads are smaller units of a process, allowing for parallel execution of code segments, which increases the efficiency of applications. By utilizing multithreading, a program can perform multiple operations at the same time, such as responding to user input while also processing data, leading to improved performance and responsiveness.

In contrast, running multiple processes sequentially would not take advantage of multithreading, as it involves executing one process at a time rather than allowing multiple threads to run simultaneously. While simplifying code and using multiple CPUs can contribute to better performance, these concepts do not directly define multithreading itself. Multithreading specifically focuses on the concurrent execution of threads within the same application, maximizing resource utilization and performance.