Synchronous operation

1. Two or more processes that depend on the occurrences of specific events such as common timing signals. 2. A data transmission method in which there is constant time between successive bits, characters, or events. The timing is achieved by the sharing of a single clock. Each end of the transmission synchronizes itself with the use of clocks and information sent along with the transmitted data. Characters are spaced by time and not by start and stop bits. 3. A function call that blocks execution of a process until it returns. See also asynchronous operation.