Actor model

The actor model in <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a> is a <a href="/facts/Mathematical_model/CGhyuxgz">mathematical model</a> of <a href="/facts/Concurrent_computation/yVzQBPr9">concurrent computation</a> that treats an actor as the basic building block of concurrent computation. In response to a <a href="/facts/Message_(computing)/RYf3hD3J">message</a> it receives, an actor can: make local decisions, create more actors, send more messages, and determine how to respond to the next message received. Actors may modify their own <a href="/facts/Private_state/kzDnbHPe">private state</a>, but can only affect each other indirectly through messaging (removing the need for <a href="/facts/Lock_(computer_science)/e3a9gnJT">lock-based synchronization</a>).
The actor model originated in 1973. It has been used both as a framework for a <a href="/facts/Actor_model_theory/d2BsQJsF">theoretical understanding</a> of <a href="/facts/Concurrency_(computer_science)/Ctnrrq4A">computation</a> and as the theoretical basis for several <a href="/facts/Actor_model_implementation/8pGf3c8A">practical implementations</a> of <a href="/facts/Concurrency_(computer_science)/Ctnrrq4A">concurrent systems</a>. The relationship of the model to other work is discussed in <a href="/facts/Actor_model_and_process_calculi/C29Uux3n">actor model and process calculi</a>.

Actor model open-in-new

Actor model