In parallel programming or computing, single tasks are split into a number of subtasks that can be computed relatively independently and then aggregated to form a single coherent solution. Parallel programming is most often used for tasks that can easily broken down into independent tasks such as purely mathematical problems, e.g. factorisation. Problems such as these are known to be 'embarrassingly parallel'.

Distributed computing can be defined as a method of information processing in which work is performed by separate computers linked through a communications network.

Pioneers in the field of concurrent programming include Edsger Dijkstra and C. A. R. Hoare.

Topics in concurrent programming include:

• critical sections
• mutual exclusion
• synchronization

• Computer multitasking
• Multithreading
• Multitasking
• Concurrency control
• Coroutines
• Parallel processor
• Concurrent C