The dependency of a process affects the ability of the process to be synchronous or asynchronous, and the ability of the parent to exit certain blocks without incurring an error.

An independent process is always asynchronous. The initiator of an independent process continues execution without waiting for the independent process to terminate. By contrast, a dependent process can be synchronous or asynchronous, depending on the type of initiation statement that is used. Another difference is that an independent process can continue executing after its parent has terminated, whereas a dependent process must terminate before its parent does.