queue dequeue enqueue <programming> A {first-in first-out} data structure used to sequence objects. Objects are added to the tail of the queue ("enqueued") and taken off the head ("dequeued"). For example, an {operating system} might use a queue to serialise {concurrent} demands for a resource such as a {printer}, {processor} or communications channel. Users might place files on a print queue and a {background} process or "{demon}" would take them off and print them. Another common use is to pass data between an {interrupt handler} and a user process. (2007-05-18)