Database-as-IPC

In computer programming, Database-as-IPC is an anti-pattern where a database is used as the message queue for routine interprocess communication in a situation where a much more lightweight IPC mechanism, using sockets for example, would be suitable. Because using a database for this sort of message passing is extremely inefficient compared to other IPC methods and often introduces serious long-term maintenance issues, but enjoys a measure of popularity because the database operations are more widely understood than 'proper' IPC mechanisms, it is considered an anti-pattern.