Software → Operating Systems
Pipe
An operating-system communication mechanism that connects output from one process to input of another.
Motivation
Pipe solves the problem of streaming output from one process into another.
Where it fits
Pipe belongs to operating systems and shell workflows.
Mental model
A pipe is a one-way communication channel, often used to compose small tools into larger workflows.
Common mistakes
- Assuming pipes store all data before the next process starts.
- Ignoring backpressure when producers are faster than consumers.
Related concepts
Pipe connects to process, shell, file descriptor, stream processing, and backpressure.