# pipe function

pipe creates two file descriptors which can be used by parent and child processes to communicate data. A child process can be created with the fork function.

    	Library:   unistd.h

    	Prototype: int pipe(int fd[2]);

    	Syntax:    int fd[2];
    		   pipe(fd);

On error, pipe returns -1.

Once the pipe has been executed, the data can be transfered using read and write.

## Notes:

Make sure that when you read exactly the same number of bytes that are written! I spend HOURS trying to figure out why I was loosing data because of this feature!!

## Examples:

read and write fixed length records.

read and write variable length records.

## See Also:

fork

popen function.

pclose function.

read function.

write function.

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