Shared Memory Inter-Process Communication

Shared memory inter-process communication is a mechanism that allows multiple processes to access the same region of memory. In high-frequency trading systems, this is used to pass market data or orders between different components, such as a feed handler process and a strategy process, without the overhead of copying data.

This is significantly faster than traditional message passing methods like pipes or sockets. By sharing memory, the system achieves extremely low latency and high throughput.

It is a common design pattern in modular trading architectures. The use of shared memory requires careful synchronization, such as using atomic operations or lock-free data structures, to prevent data corruption.

It is a key technique for building scalable and efficient trading systems. This approach ensures that data is moved between components with minimal delay.

It is a foundational element of high-performance system design.