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Message queue
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a>, message queues and mailboxes are <a href="/facts/Software_engineering/KX6cE9kz">software-engineering</a> <a href="/facts/Software_componentry/eW5wvSHC">components</a> typically used for <a href="/facts/Inter-process_communication/cIQYyT6y">inter-process communication</a> (IPC), or for inter-<a href="/facts/Thread_(computing)/hh8WHyPd">thread</a> communication within the same process. They use a <a href="/facts/Queue_(data_structure)/hVPjPXus">queue</a> for <a href="/facts/Message_(computer_science)/RYf3hD3J">messaging</a> – the passing of control or of content. <a href="/facts/Group_communication_system/SFzUwufj">Group communication systems</a> provide similar kinds of functionality. </p><p>The message queue paradigm is a sibling of the <a href="/facts/Publish%25E2%2580%2593subscribe_pattern/d2aH1etM">publisher/subscriber</a> pattern, and is typically one part of a larger <a href="/facts/Message-oriented_middleware/jI3NVb5b">message-oriented middleware</a> system. Most messaging systems support both the publisher/subscriber and message queue models in their <a href="/facts/Application_programming_interface/GMlN4vUr">API</a>, e.g. <a href="/facts/Java_Message_Service/aTzyVj3n">Java Message Service</a> (JMS). </p><p>Competing Consumers pattern enables multiple concurrent consumers to process messages on the same message queue. </p>