What is the difference between push and pull?

In the context of communication and information flow, "push" and "pull" refer to different methods of distributing or accessing data.

Push: In a push model, information or data is actively sent or pushed from a sender to a recipient. The sender determines what information to send and when to send it, without the recipient explicitly requesting it. This method is often used in broadcast systems, notifications, or updates. Examples include email newsletters, push notifications on mobile devices, or automated system alerts.

Pull: In a pull model, information or data is retrieved or pulled by the recipient when they explicitly request it. The recipient decides what information they need and initiates the retrieval process. This method is commonly used in client-server systems, where clients request data from servers. Examples include web browsing, querying a database, or accessing files from a remote server.

To summarize:

Push: Information is actively sent from a sender to a recipient without explicit request.
Pull: Information is retrieved by the recipient when they explicitly request it.
These terms can also apply to other areas beyond information flow, but the fundamental distinction remains the same—push involves sending or providing, while pull involves requesting or retrieving.