Difference between Parallel Computing and Distributed Computing

The key difference between parallel computing and distributed computing is that parallel computing is to execute multiple tasks using multiple processors simultaneously, on the other hand in distributed computing, multiple computers are connected via a network to work together in order to achieve a common goal.

In this article, we will discuss the main difference between parallel and distributed computing along with a separate discussion.

Parallel Computing

Parallel computing is a type of computation in which many calculations or the execution of processes are carried out simultaneously. The idea behind parallel computing is to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, dividing the work between multiple processors, to get a solution faster.

Parallel computing has become increasingly important in recent years due to the growing complexity of scientific and engineering problems, and the increasing demand for real-time data processing in many applications, such as weather forecasting, financial simulations, scientific research, and video and image processing.

Distributed Computing

Distributed computing is a field of computer science that studies the distribution of computational tasks across multiple interconnected computers in a network, with the goal of achieving higher levels of performance and scalability. In a distributed computing system, each computer works on a portion of the problem, and the results from each computer are combined to obtain the final solution.

Some examples of distributed computing systems are:

Grid computing: A type of distributed computing where a large number of computers are connected over a network to solve a common problem.

Cluster computing: A type of distributed computing where multiple computers are connected to form a single, high-performance system.

Cloud computing: A type of distributed computing that involves delivering computing resources over the internet as a service.

Parallel Computing vs Distributed Computing

The key differences between parallel computing and distributed computing are given below:

Parallel Computing	Distributed Computing
Parallel computing involves the use of multiple processors within a single computer to work on a problem.	Distributed computing involves the use of multiple computers across a network to work together on a problem.
If one processor fails, others can continue working.	If one computer fails, others can continue working.
In parallel computing, communication between processors is usually fast because the processors are housed within the same computer	In distributed computing, communication between computers is slower because the computers are connected over a network.
Parallel computing often requires a high degree of synchronization between processors, as they must coordinate their efforts to solve a problem.	In distributed computing, synchronization is more complex because the computers work independently and must coordinate their efforts over a network.
In parallel computing, the computer can have a shared memory.	In distributed computing, each computer has its own memory.