2.3 Semantic Terms

When discussing MPI procedures the following semantic terms are used. The first two are usually applied to communication operations.

nonblocking
If the procedure may return before the operation completes, and before the user is allowed to re-use resources (such as buffers) specified in the call.
blocking
If return from the procedure indicates the user is allowed to re-use resources specified in the call.
local
If completion of the procedure depends only on the local executing process. Such an operation does not require communication with another user process.
non-local
If completion of the operation may require the execution of some MPI procedure on another process. Such an operation may require communication occurring with another user process.
collective
If all processes in a process group need to invoke the procedure.

MPI-Standard for MARMOT