IPC
Overview
Inter-Process Communication (IPC) mechanisms allow processes to exchange data and synchronize actions. The Linux kernel provides several IPC facilities.
IPC Mechanisms
- Linux/Kernel/IPC/Pipes: unidirectional byte streams between related processes.
- Linux/Kernel/ProcessManagement/FileDescriptors: the underlying FD table that enables redirection and IPC.
- Signals: asynchronous notifications between processes.
- Shared memory: fastest IPC; processes map the same physical pages.
- Message queues: kernel-managed message passing (System V or POSIX).
- Sockets: IPC across network or local (Unix domain sockets).