In computing, a pipeline is a series of connected processing elements (processes or functions) arranged so that the output of one element is the input of the next. The term “pipeline” suggests a flow of data from one element to the next in a manner similar to water flowing through a pipe.
Pipelines are commonly used in computer systems to process large amounts of data efficiently. For example, in a video game, multiple tasks such as rendering graphics, physics calculations, and audio processing can be performed simultaneously using pipelines.
A pipeline typically consists of several stages, each with its own processing unit or function. Each stage processes some aspect of the data and passes it on to the next stage for further processing. By breaking down complex tasks into smaller sub-tasks and distributing them across multiple stages, pipelines can greatly improve performance and reduce latency.
Pipelines are also commonly used in software development as part of continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflows. In this context, pipelines are used to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying software changes to production environments.
