IPC files enable processes to communicate with other processes in a manner similar to reading or writing a file on a physical device. This makes IPC files an ideal method for transmitting large quantities of textual information between processes.

The processes that communicate through an IPC file do not have to belong to the same process family. The processes specify various file attributes that allow the system to establish a link between the correct pair of processes.

The system supports port files for use in IPC as briefly described in the following subsection.