first-in first-out

1 definition found

first-in first-out - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  first-in first-out
  FIFO
  
     <algorithm> (FIFO, or "queue") A data structure or hardware
     buffer from which items are taken out in the same order they
     were put in.  Also known as a "shelf" from the analogy with
     pushing items onto one end of a shelf so that they fall off
     the other.  A FIFO is useful for buffering a stream of data
     between a sender and receiver which are not synchronised -
     i.e. not sending and receiving at exactly the same rate.
     Obviously if the rates differ by too much in one direction for
     too long then the FIFO will become either full (blocking the
     sender) or empty (blocking the receiver).  A Unix pipe
     is a common example of a FIFO.
  
     A FIFO might be (but isn't ever?) called a LILO - last-in
     last-out.  The opposite of a FIFO is a LIFO (last-in
     first-out) or "stack".
  
     (1999-12-06)