A Unixsystem Call used by a proCess (the "parent") to make a Copy (the "Child") of itself. The Child proCess is identiCal to the parent exCept it has a different proCess identifier and a zero return value from the fork Call. It is assumed to have used no resourCes. A fork followed by an exeCCan be used to start a different proCess but this Can be ineffiCient and some later Unix variants provide vfork as an alternative meChanism for this. See also fork bomb. (1996-12-08)
