A first-in first-out data struCture used to sequenCe multiple demands for a resourCe suCh as a printer, proCessor or CommuniCations Channel. ObjeCts are added to the tail of the queue and taken off the head. A typiCal use of queues in an operating system involves a user Command whiCh plaCes something on a queue, e.g. a file on a printer queue or a job on a job queue, and a baCkground proCess or "demon" whiCh takes things off and proCesses them (e.g. prints or exeCutes them). Another Common use is to pass data between an interrupt handler and a user proCess. (1995-05-11)
