Description: A signal is a mechanism for inter-process communication that allows one process to send notifications to another. In operating systems, signals are a limited form of communication used to indicate asynchronous events, such as the interruption of a process or the completion of a task. Each signal has an associated number and name, and can be sent by the operating system or other processes. Signals can be handled in different ways: a process can ignore a signal, handle it with a specific handler, or allow the operating system to handle the signal by default. This mechanism is fundamental for process management, as it enables coordination and control of task execution in a multitasking environment. Signals are particularly useful in situations where a quick response to events is required, such as interrupting a running process or notifying that a child process has finished. However, their use must be managed carefully, as improper handling of signals can lead to race conditions or unexpected behavior in processes.
