Interprocess communication (IPC) allows different software to interact, facilitated by an operating system or alternative methods. IPC can occur through direct messages or a central repository, and can improve performance, resource consumption, and security. Multiple processes can increase performance and stability, and most operating systems offer mechanisms for IPC. Messages can be exchanged directly or through shared memory, depending on the speed and volume of data exchange needed. Splitting a large application into smaller processes can increase performance and security, and allow for special access to hardware or software.
Interprocess communication (IPC) is a group of techniques used in computer programming that allow different software to interact. IPC is often facilitated by a computer operating system, although alternative methods exist. The exact form of this communication between software can vary, ranging from direct messages to a central repository where information is stored and retrieved. Inter-process communication can provide benefits such as higher performance, less consumption of computer resources, and improved security.
In the world of programming, we talk about software in terms of a process, or a single piece of code, that can run or run on a computer’s Central Processing Unit (CPU). Many applications actually use more than one process, which can increase performance and stability. A web browser with multiple pages open might use a separate process to load each page; this isolates each page from the others and prevents a poorly managed web page from crashing the entire browser. In this example, each process responsible for rendering a web page communicates with one or more processes that manage other aspects of the browser such as user interface components.
Most computer operating systems provide several mechanisms for inter-process communication. Some other software technologies also offer support for IPC. Additionally, IPC can be used on a single computer or over a network. These mechanisms can vary in how they are implemented, but most can be grouped into a few categories based on how communication occurs.
In some cases, messages are exchanged directly between processes, often one-way or asynchronously. Some IPC methods that work this way include signals, pipes, and sockets. Inter-process communication can also occur through the use of a specific place where data can be accessed by more than one process. An example of this is shared memory, a technique in which multiple processes access the same portion of a computer’s memory to exchange information. The method a programmer may choose depends on the speed and volume of data exchange needed, as well as other considerations.
There are many reasons why a programmer might want to use interprocess communication in his software creations. Splitting a large application into many smaller processes that communicate via IPC can increase performance and security. A program can start and terminate processes as needed rather than running all components at once and consuming hardware resources. If part of a program requires special access to a computer hardware or other running software, one or more processes may run under an administrator or “root” account while the rest of the program runs as a normal user.
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