Which of the following best describes multitasking in an operating system?

Multitasking in an operating system refers to the ability of the system to execute multiple processes simultaneously. This capability allows users to run more than one application at a time, enhancing productivity by enabling tasks to be performed concurrently. In a multitasking environment, the operating system manages the allocation of resources such as CPU time and memory, effectively allowing different processes to operate alongside each other without interfering.

This includes task management where the operating system quickly switches between tasks so that it feels like they are running at the same time, even if the system may only have a single CPU core. Multitasking significantly improves the user experience by allowing users to work on multiple applications, receive updates, and manage several tasks without having to close one application to open another.