programming, operating system (IPC) Exchange of data between one
process and another, either within the same computer or over a
network. It implies a
protocol that guarantees a response to a request. Examples are
Unix sockets,
RISC OS's messages,
OS/2's Named Pipes,
Microsoft Windows'
DDE, Novell's
SPX and
Macintosh's IAC.
Although IPC is performed automatically by programs, an analogous function can be performed interactively when users cut and paste data from one process to another using a
clipboard.
(1995-12-14)