pub/sub
n.n. a way for computer programs to send messages to each other without being directly connected. One program 'publishes' information, and any other program that has 'subscribed' to that topic receives it automatically.
n. a messaging pattern where senders (publishers) do not program the messages to be sent directly to specific receivers (subscribers). Instead, messages are categorized into classes or topics, allowing for greater scalability and looser coupling between software components.
The application uses a pub/sub model to handle real-time notifications.
By implementing pub/sub, the weather service can broadcast updates to thousands of users simultaneously.
The architecture leverages a pub/sub pattern to decouple microservices, allowing the analytics engine to process data streams without impacting the primary database.
A compound abbreviation formed from the verbs publish and subscribe. It is a clipped initialism that mirrors the naming conventions of mid-to-late twentieth-century computing protocols.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often functions as a compound noun or a modifier before another noun (e.g., 'pub/sub model', 'pub/sub system').
Last updated July 22, 2026