How to Create a Pipe File in Linux?

You cannot create a "pipe file" in Linux. Pipes in Linux are not files but rather a mechanism for inter-process communication (IPC). They are temporary communication channels that allow data to flow from one process to another.

Here's how pipes work:

• Creating a pipe: You use the pipe() system call to create a pipe. This creates two file descriptors, one for reading and one for writing.
• Data flow: The writing process writes data to the write end of the pipe, and the reading process reads data from the read end.
• Temporary nature: Pipes are temporary and exist only for the duration of the processes using them.

Example:

# Create a pipe and store the file descriptors in variables
mkfifo mypipe

# Write to the pipe
echo "Hello, world!" > mypipe

# Read from the pipe
cat mypipe

This example creates a named pipe called "mypipe," writes a string to it, and then reads it back.

Note:

While you cannot create a file that acts like a pipe, you can use named pipes (also known as FIFO) for persistent communication between processes.

Named pipes are similar to regular files in the file system, but they behave like pipes. They allow processes to communicate even if they are not running simultaneously.

Creating a named pipe:

mkfifo mypipe

This command creates a named pipe called "mypipe."

Using a named pipe:

• Processes can write to the named pipe using redirection (>) or using the write() system call.
• Processes can read from the named pipe using redirection (<) or using the read() system call.