What term describes the concurrent execution of multiple applications by the operating system?

The term that describes the concurrent execution of multiple applications by the operating system is multitasking. This concept allows an operating system to manage and allocate resources so that multiple processes or applications can run simultaneously. In multitasking environments, users can switch between applications without needing to close any of them, which enhances productivity and the user experience.

Multitasking works by using a scheduling algorithm that allocates CPU time to each process, ensuring that all active applications receive the attention they need from the processor. This capability is fundamental to modern operating systems, as it enables users to perform several tasks at the same time, such as browsing the web while listening to music or word processing.

The other terms mentioned serve different purposes: multithreading relates to dividing a single application into multiple threads for simultaneous execution within that application, multilevel processing refers to the architecture of computer systems managing tasks at various levels of processing, and multiuser access involves multiple users having access to the same system or resources without interfering with each other’s activities.