queue

n 1: a line of people or vehicles waiting for something [syn: {waiting

line}]

2: (in information processing) an ordered list of tasks to be

performed or messages to be transmitted

3: a braid of hair at the back of the head

v : form a queue, form a line, stand in line [syn: {line up}, {queue

up}]

queue

A {first-in first-out} data structure used to

sequence multiple demands for a resource such as a {printer},

{processor} or communications channel. Objects are added to

the tail of the queue and taken off the head.

A typical use of queues in an {operating system} involves a

user command which places something on a queue, e.g. a file on

a printer queue or a job on a job queue, and a {background}

process or "{demon}" which takes things off and processes them

(e.g. prints or executes them). Another common use is to pass

data between an {interrupt handler} and a user process.

(1995-05-11)