A foreground process is a task or application that is currently active and visible to the user on their computer or device. It is the primary focus of user interaction, allowing the user to input commands or data directly. Examples of foreground processes include web browsers, word processors, and games. In contrast, a background process runs behind the scenes, performing tasks without direct user interaction. Foreground processes can be paused or stopped, while background processes often continue to operate to support the main application. Both types of processes are essential for multitasking in operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.