https://matklad.github.io/2024/09/23/what-is-io-uring.html

matklad About Links Blogroll

What is io_uring? Sep 23, 2024

An attempt at concise explanation of what io_uring is.

io_uring is a new Linux kernel interface for making system calls. 
Traditionally, syscalls are submitted to the kernel individually and
synchronously: a syscall CPU instruction transfers control from the 
application to the kernel; control returns to the application only
when the syscall is completed. In contrast, io_uring is a batched and
asynchronous interface. The application submits several syscalls by
writing their codes & arguments to a lock-free shared-memory ring
buffer. The kernel reads the syscalls from this shared memory and
executes them at its own pace. To communicate results back to the
application, the kernel writes the results to a second lock-free
shared-memory ring buffer, where they become available to the 
application asynchronously.

You might want to use io_uring if:

  * you need extra performance unlocked by amortizing userspace/
    kernelspace context switching across entire batches of syscalls,
  * you want a unified asynchronous interface to the entire system.

You might want to avoid io_uring if:

  * you need to write portable software,
  * you want to use only old, proven features,
  * and in particular you want to use features with a good security
    track record.

Fix typo Subscribe Get in touch matklad