What occurs when the kernel stops working due to errors?

When the kernel encounters severe errors that it cannot resolve, it triggers a state known as a kernel panic. This occurs when the operating system's kernel detects a fatal condition from which it cannot safely recover, halting all operations. The kernel panic typically results in the system displaying a message describing the error and, in most cases, requires a manual restart of the machine to regain functionality.

In a kernel panic scenario, access to the system is effectively shut down to prevent further damage or data loss. This event is particularly critical as it indicates a serious issue, such as hardware failures, corrupted memory, or invalid operations attempted by processes.

Other terms like kernel recovery, kernel crash, and kernel hang refer to different situations. Kernel recovery suggests an attempt to self-correct after an error, a situation distinct from the complete halt that a kernel panic represents. Kernel crash generally implies a failure but does not specify the nature of the failure as a panic does, and kernel hang refers to a state where the system becomes unresponsive without necessarily experiencing a critical failure in the kernel's underlying functionality. Thus, the concept of kernel panic encapsulates the complete and irreversible halt due to irrecoverable errors within the kernel.