The term was coined by the programmers at MIT’s Project MAC. They took the name from Maxwell’s demon, an imaginary being from a thought experiment that constantly works in the background, sorting molecules. Unix systems inherited this terminology.

What does daemon mean in Linux?

A daemon is a service process that runs in the background and supervises the system or provides functionality to other processes. Traditionally, daemons are implemented following a scheme originating in SysV Unix.

What does daemon mean?

1a : an evil spirit angels and demons. b : a source or agent of evil, harm, distress, or ruin the demons of drug and alcohol addiction confronting the demons of his childhood. 2 usually daemon : an attendant (see attendant entry 2 sense 1) power or spirit : genius.