Inter-process communication
Inter-process communication (IPC) is the exchange of data between one process and another, either within the same computer or over a network. It implies a protocol that guarantees a response to a request. Examples are Unix sockets, RISC OS's messages, Mach ports, OS/2's named pipes, Microsoft Windows' DDE, Novell's SPX, Apple Macintosh's IAC (particularly AppleEvents) and different forms of software componentry (CORBA, Component Object Model ...).
Although IPC is performed automatically by programs, an analogous function can be performed interactively when users cut and paste data from one process to another using a clipboard.
Table of IPC Methods:
| Method | Operating Systems |
|---|---|
| File | All operating systems |
| Signal | All operating systems |
| Pipe | All POSIX systems |
| Named pipe | All POSIX systems |
| Shared memory | All POSIX systems |
| Memory map | All POSIX systems; may carry race condition risk if a temporary file is used |
| Message queue | Most operating systems |
| Mailbox | Some operating systems |
References
- This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, which is licensed under the GFDL.