What is pid number?

A PID (Process Identifier) number is a unique identification number assigned to a process running in a computer system. This number is used by the operating system to track and manage running processes. Each process in a system is assigned a unique PID number, which helps in distinguishing one process from another.

The PID number is important for managing and controlling processes in a computer system. It can be used to monitor the status of a process, identify processes that are consuming too many system resources, and kill or terminate a specific process if necessary.

In Unix-like operating systems, the PID number is typically a positive integer that is assigned sequentially to each new process. The PID number of a process can be found using system utilities like ps (process status) or top.

Overall, PID numbers play a crucial role in the operation and management of computer systems, allowing administrators to effectively monitor and control processes running on the system.