Batch processing

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Batch processing is execution of a series of programs ("jobs") on a computer without human interaction.

Batch jobs are set up so they can be run to completion without human interaction, so all input data is preselected through scripts or command-line parameters. This is in contrast to "online" or interactive programs which prompt the user for such input.

Batch processing has these benefits:

  • It allows sharing of computer resources among many users,
  • It shifts the time of job processing to when the computing resources are less busy,
  • It avoids idling the computing resources with minute-by-minute human interaction and supervision,
  • By keeping high overall rate of utilization, it better amortizes the cost of a computer, especially an expensive one.

Batch processing has been associated with mainframe computers since the earliest days of electronic computing in 1950s. Because such computers were enormously costly, batch processing was the only economically-viable option of their use. In those days, interactive sessions with either text-based computer terminal interfaces or graphical user interfaces were not widespread. Initially, computers were not even capable of having multiple programs loaded to the main memory.

Batch processing has grown beyond its mainframe origins, and is now frequently used in UNIX environments, where the cron and at facilities allow for scheduling of complex job scripts. Similarly, Microsoft DOS and Windows systems refer to their command-scripting language as batch files and Windows has a job scheduler.

A popular computerized batch processing procedure is printing. This normally involves the operator selecting the documents they need printed and indicating to the batch printing software when and where they should be output. Batch processing is also used for efficient bulk database updates and automated transaction processing, as contrasted to interactive online transaction processing (OLTP) applications.

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