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Reference.org
Preemption (computing)
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, preemption is the act performed by a external <a href="/facts/Scheduling_(computing)/XptmcM1a">scheduler</a> — without assistance or cooperation from the task — to temporarily <a href="/facts/Interrupt/Mm6C4rpc">interrupting</a> an <a href="/facts/Execution_(computing)/1fyfGMFm">executing</a> <a href="/facts/Task_(computing)/ghdT0IkM">task</a>, with the intention of resuming it at a later time.: 153 This preemptive scheduler usually runs in the most privileged <a href="/facts/Protection_ring/27y4kjHs">protection ring</a>, meaning that interruption and then resumption are considered highly secure actions. Such changes to the currently executing task of a <a href="/facts/Processor_(computing)/z3wPljrI">processor</a> are known as <a href="/facts/Context_switch/N0oJQ6CC">context switching</a>. </p>