The process temporarily holds data destined for a device or program until that device or program is ready to receive it. Imagine several users sending print jobs to a single printer. Instead of each user having to wait for the printer to become available, their documents are stored in a queue. Once the printer is free, the documents are printed in the order they were received. This illustrates the basic function of the described process.
The technique improves system efficiency by allowing processes to continue working without waiting for slower devices to complete their tasks. Historically, it was particularly important when computers were much slower and devices like printers operated at significantly lower speeds. It allowed computers to handle multiple tasks concurrently, improving throughput and overall system responsiveness. Its implementation remains beneficial today for managing resources and preventing bottlenecks in diverse computing environments.
