Type of IPC | Purpose | Implementations |
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Shared memory | A way to create a segment of memory that is mapped into the address space of two or more processes, each of which can access and alter the memory contents | SVR4, IRIX |
Semaphores | The traditional mechanism for coordinating access to a shared resource, by which concurrent processes ensure mutually exclusive use of memory when necessary | SVR4, IRIX |
Locks | A mechanism for mutual exclusion that is less general than the semaphore but that has less overhead | IRIX |
Barriers | A mechanism for ensuring that all processes are ready before any of them proceed | IRIX |
Message Queues | A set of functions by which processes can exchange messages | SVR4 |
Sockets | Virtual data connections between processes that may be in different systems | BSD |