Android Programming The Big Nerd Ranch Guide by Bill Phillips, Chris Stewart, Kristin Marsicano (z-lib.org)

For the More Curious: Processes vs Tasks

However, the contact list activity instance is actually created in the memory space of the contacts app’s
process, and it runs on the virtual machine living in the contacts application’s process. (The state of the
activity instances and task references of this scenario are depicted in Figure 24.13.)

Figure 24.13  Task referencing multiple processes

To explore the idea of processes versus tasks further, leave CriminalIntent up and running on the
contact list screen. (Make sure the contacts app itself is not listed on the overview screen. If so, clear
the contacts app task.) Press the Home button. Launch the contacts app from the Home screen. Select a
contact from the list of contacts (or select to add a new contact).