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Creating child process using fork() in Python

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Create a child process and display process id of both parent and child process.

Fork system call use for creates a new process, which is called child process, which runs concurrently with process (which process called system call fork) and this process is called parent process. After a new child process created, both processes will execute the next instruction following the fork() system call.

Library used :
os : The OS module in Python provides a way of using operating system dependent functionality. The functions that the OS module provides allows you to interface with the underlying operating system that Python is running on; be that Windows, Mac or Linux. It can be imported as –

import os

System Call Used :

  • fork() : fork() is an operation whereby a process creates a copy of itself. It is usually a system call, implemented in the kernel.
  • getpid() : getpid() returns the process ID (PID) of the calling process.


  • Below is Python program implementing above :




    # Python code to create child process 
    import os
      
    def parent_child():
        n = os.fork()
      
        # n greater than 0  means parent process
        if n > 0:
            print("Parent process and id is : ", os.getpid())
      
        # n equals to 0 means child process
        else:
            print("Child process and id is : ", os.getpid())
              
    # Driver code
    parent_child()

    
    

    Output :

    
    Child process and id is :  32523
    Parent process and id is :  32524
    

    Note : Output can vary time to time, machine to machine or process to process.


    Last Updated : 12 Dec, 2017
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