What happens if I stop the application - briefly?
If you stop the application, any unsaved data or ongoing processes will be lost. The system resources allocated to the application will also be freed up for use by other applications.
What happens if I stop the application - in detail?
If you decide to stop an application, several processes and events will occur depending on the nature of the software and how it is implemented. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what typically happens:
Firstly, the operating system (OS) receives a signal indicating that the application should be terminated. This can come from various sources such as user input (e.g., clicking "Close" or using a keyboard shortcut), another process, or even an internal error within the application itself. The OS then initiates a series of actions to gracefully close the application.
One of the first steps is for the OS to send a termination signal to the application’s main process. This signal instructs the application to begin its shutdown sequence. During this phase, the application will attempt to perform any necessary cleanup operations. These may include saving unsaved data, releasing system resources such as memory and file handles, and closing network connections.
If the application has child processes or threads running in the background, these will also receive termination signals. They are expected to stop their operations and release any resources they were using. This ensures that all parts of the application are properly shut down and do not leave any residual processes running.
In case an application fails to respond to the termination signal within a reasonable time frame, the OS may intervene by forcefully closing the application. This is known as a "forceful termination" or "kill." In such cases, the application does not have the opportunity to perform its cleanup operations, which can lead to data loss or other issues. For instance, unsaved work might be lost, and temporary files created during the application’s operation may remain on the system.
Another important aspect is the handling of user data. If the application was storing user preferences, settings, or other persistent data, these should ideally be saved before shutdown. However, if the termination is forceful, this might not happen, potentially leading to inconsistencies in the stored data.
Furthermore, some applications are designed to restart automatically after being closed, either due to an internal setting or as part of a system service. This behavior can be particularly common with background services and system utilities that need to remain operational.
Lastly, depending on the application’s architecture and the OS it is running on, there might be additional steps involved in terminating the application completely. For example, some applications may have plugins or extensions that also need to be shut down properly.
In summary, stopping an application involves a series of coordinated actions aimed at ensuring a clean and orderly shutdown. However, if these processes are interrupted or not completed successfully, it can result in data loss, resource leaks, and other undesirable outcomes.