Meaning – The first-in-first-out mechanism is a queueing technique where the item that was stored for the longest time, is processed first and so on. In a similar fashion, using the FIFO technique, the first items entered are the first ones to be removed.
Computers often implement the FIFO system when extracting data from an array or buffer. If the first data entered into the buffer must be extracted first, the FIFO method is used. The opposite to the FIFO technique is the LIFO technique, in which the last bit of data to be entered, is the first one to be removed.
In order for this to take place, FIFO systems ensure that the new element is inserted below the existing element so that the oldest element can be at the top and taken out first.
Example of usage – “In computing, FIFO approach is used as an operating system algorithm, which gives every process CPU time in the order they arrive.”
