What is a batch job?

A batch job is a computer program or set of programs processed in batch mode. This means that a sequence of commands to be executed by the operating system is listed in a file (often called a batch file, command file, or shell script) and is submitted for execution as a single unit. The opposite of a batch job is interactive processing, in which users enter individual commands to be processed immediately.

In many cases, batch jobs accumulate during working hours and are then executed during the evening or another time the computer is idle. This is often the best way to run programs that place heavy demands on the computer.

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