Semantic Terms

When discussing MPI procedures the following semantic terms are used. The first two are usually applied to communication operations.

{ nonblocking}

If the procedure may return before the operation completes, and before the user is allowed to re-use resources (such as buffers) specified in the call.

{ blocking}

If return from the procedure indicates the user is allowed to re-use resources specified in the call.

{ local}

If completion of the procedure depends only on the local executing process. Such an operation does not require communication with another user process.

{ non-local}

If completion of the operation may require the execution of some MPI procedure on another process. Such an operation may require communication occurring with another user process.

{ collective}

If all processes in a process group need to invoke the procedure.