IPC stands for "Interprocess Communication." It refers to the set of techniques and mechanisms used to enable communication and data exchange between multiple independent processes or programs running concurrently in a computer system.
In a multi-process or multi-threaded environment, IPC plays a crucial role in facilitating coordination and cooperation among various processes or threads. It allows them to share information, synchronize their actions, and communicate effectively, enhancing the overall functionality and performance of the system.
IPC involves different methods, such as shared memory, message passing, remote procedure calls, and sockets. Shared memory allows processes to access a common segment of memory, facilitating fast and efficient data sharing. Message passing involves passing messages between processes, where a sender process sends a message to a receiver process for communication.
Remote procedure calls (RPCs) enable processes to invoke procedures or methods on remote systems as if they were local, empowering distributed systems with seamless communication. Sockets provide a mechanism for processes to establish network connections, enabling IPC across multiple machines or systems.
IPC is essential in operating systems, where multiple processes run simultaneously and need to interact or communicate with each other. It is also fundamental in distributed systems, client-server architectures, and parallel computing, as it enables various components to collaborate and work together smoothly.
Overall, IPC plays a pivotal role in facilitating efficient communication, data sharing, and synchronization among different processes or programs in a computer system, making it a vital aspect of modern computing.
