The Linux Programming Interface

43INTERPROCESS COMMUNICATION OVERVIEW

This chapter presents a brief overview of the facilities that processes and threads can use to communicate with one another and to synchronize their actions. The following chapters provide more details about these facilities.

43.1 A Taxonomy of IPC Facilities

Figure 43-1 summarizes the rich variety of UNIX communication and synchronization facilities, dividing them into three broad functional categories:

• Communication: These facilities are concerned with exchanging data between processes.

• Synchronization: These facilities are concerned with synchronizing the actions of processes or threads.

• Signals: Although signals are intended primarily for other purposes, they can be used as a synchronization technique ...