A batch job is a method of running computer programs automatically without further user interaction. The term "batch" refers to a collection of jobs that are submitted together to be processed as a single unit. Batch jobs are often queued up during working hours and executed during the evening or weekend when the computer is idle. Once the batch job is submitted, it enters into a queue where it waits until the system is ready to process the job. If the job queue contains many jobs waiting to be processed, the system processes the jobs either in chronological order or by priority.

Batch jobs are frequently used to automate tasks that need to be performed on a regular basis, like payroll, but don’t necessarily need to occur during the day or have an employee interacted with the system. They are also used to process large amounts of data, such as backups, filtering, and converting computer files from one format to another. Modern batch processing requires minimal human supervision or management, and if there is an issue, the system automatically notifies the concerned team to solve it.

Batch jobs are still highly relevant activities in almost every business computing environment to this day despite the advances in modern technologies. Some examples of batch jobs include printing a series of files, image manipulation, and computer-generated reporting at the end of the day.