Synchronization

• Message passing may be either blocking or non-blocking
• Blocking is considered synchronous
• Blocking send has the sender block until the message is received
• Blocking receive has the receiver block until a message is available
• Non-blocking is considered asynchronous
• Non-blocking send has the sender send the message and continue
• Non-blocking receive has the receiver receive a valid message or null
• Synchronization is timekeeping which requires the coordination of events to operate a system in unison.
• The familiar conductor of an orchestra serves to keep the orchestra in time.