Question

Which of the following enables indirect communication in IPC?

• A. Pipe
• B. Shared memory
• C. Link
• D. Mailbox

Hint:

A mailbox in IPC enables indirect communication, allowing processes to send and receive messages asynchronously without direct interaction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding Interprocess Communication (IPC)
- IPC mechanisms allow processes to communicate and share data.
- Communication can be direct (process-to-process) or indirect (via an intermediary entity like a mailbox or message queue).
Step 2: Indirect Communication in IPC
- In indirect communication, processes do not communicate directly.
- Instead, they send and receive messages via an intermediary such as a mailbox.
Step 3: Evaluating the Options
- (A) Incorrect: Pipes enable direct communication between related processes.
- (B) Incorrect: Shared memory allows direct access to a common memory space.
- (C) Incorrect: A link establishes direct communication between processes.
- (D) Correct: Mailboxes enable indirect communication by storing messages that can be retrieved asynchronously.