What is the definition of a service in computing?

In computing, a service is defined as a background process that operates without requiring user interaction. Services are designed to run in the background to perform specific tasks or functions that are essential for the operating system or applications, such as managing network connections, handling printing tasks, or supporting web servers. Since they do not require direct user input, they can run continuously and be automatically started or stopped by the operating system based on configuration settings or system needs.

This distinction emphasizes the role of services in maintaining system efficiency and performance, allowing other applications to function without being directly managed by the user. Services can also start at boot-up, further enabling system capabilities without necessitating any manual operation. This differs from features or types of software that rely on user interaction or have a direct interface.