when several processes access the same data concurrently and the outcome of the execution depends on the particular order in which the access takes place is called ________

The correct term to fill in the blank is race condition.

Quick Scoop

In operating systems and concurrent programming, a race condition occurs when multiple processes or threads access and manipulate the same shared data at the same time, and the final outcome depends on the precise timing and order of their execution.

A simple illustration:
If two processes simultaneously update a shared counter without proper synchronization, the final value can be incorrect or inconsistent depending on which process “wins the race” to read and write the variable first.

Answer: race condition ✅