# message queue

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/message-queue
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a digital waiting room for computer messages. It lets one program send information to another program even if the second one is busy or offline.

For teachers: an asynchronous communication component that stores data packets or tasks until they can be processed by a receiving application. It decouples the sender from the receiver, allowing systems to scale and handle traffic spikes without losing data.

## Examples

- The server uses a message queue to handle thousands of user requests.
- When you upload a video, the website puts the file in a message queue so the processing server can work on it later.
- By implementing a robust message queue, the architecture ensures that even if the database experiences a temporary outage, incoming transactions are preserved and processed once connectivity is restored.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in software architecture and distributed systems; often paired with verbs like 'push to', 'pull from', or 'consume'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.