Parallel

Parallel, side by side, neither converging nor diverging. In graphics, parallel refers to lines that run evenly, side by side. In other aspects of computing, parallel is used either in reference to data transfer, as in parallel interface, or in reference to data handling, as in parallel processing. In parallel data transfer, information is sent simultaneously in groups; for example, the 8 bits of a byte of data are transmitted at the same time over eight separate wires in a cable. In parallel processing and other such operations, more than one event is happening at a time; for example, multiple microprocessors in a single computer might be handling different aspects of a process (such as a complex calculation) at the same time. See also Computer; Serial.