Synchronization

Synchronization is the coordination of timing between processes so their events occur in a required relationship. It can be achieved through shared timing signals, communication, or adjustment to observed events.

Clock synchronization: The alignment of time readings across clocks so they agree within a specified tolerance. It aligns clocks whose readings must support synchronized events.
Distributed computing: A computing model in which multiple networked computers coordinate to perform tasks. Its components must coordinate events despite lacking a single shared clock.
Oscillator: A system that produces repeated variations, often in the form of a periodic signal. Oscillators provide the recurring cycles that synchronization aligns.
Asynchronous communication: Communication in which participants exchange messages without needing to be active at the same time. It does not require participants to share a schedule or act simultaneously.
Phase-locked loop: A feedback system that adjusts an oscillator to match the phase or frequency of a reference signal. It synchronizes an oscillator by continuously correcting its timing error.
Distributed database: A database whose data is stored across multiple networked computers. Replicas coordinate updates to preserve consistency across machines.
Phase: A measure of position within a repeating cycle, commonly expressed as an angle or fraction of a period. Relative phase describes how far apart two periodic processes are in their cycles.
Concurrency: The execution of multiple tasks whose progress overlaps in time, whether or not they run simultaneously. Concurrent tasks may overlap without their events being synchronized.
Coupled oscillator: An oscillator whose behavior is influenced by interaction with one or more other oscillators. Interactions between oscillators can produce coordinated rhythms without a shared clock.
Media synchronization: The coordination of related media streams so their playback remains temporally aligned. Audio and video must stay aligned during recording, transmission, and playback.

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