queue

queue
A number of customers for a good or service waiting for a turn. Queue discipline describes how turns are allocated: this may be first-come, first-served, in random order, last-in, first-out, or some system of priorities may be used. Where there is more than one server, there may be a separate queueing for each, or a common queueing for all servers. Use of a queueing system effectively allocates services by willingness to wait in place of price. The properties of queuing systems with simple patterns of arrivals and service times can be found analytically; the properties of more complex systems have to be found by simulation.