storeforward

Store-and-forward is a method used in information technology in which data is temporarily stored at an intermediate node and forwarded to the next node or recipient only when the transmission path is available or a complete unit is ready. This approach enables asynchronous communication and helps manage variable network conditions by decoupling send and receive operations.

In networking and messaging, store-and-forward means a node receives an entire message, stores it, and then forwards it to the next hop or recipient. Email servers, for example, hold messages until they can be delivered. Store-and-forward switching, used in some network architectures, reduces the need for instantaneous connectivity and can simplify error handling on congested or lossy links.

In telemedicine and healthcare, store-and-forward telemedicine collects data such as medical images, videos, or sensor readings and transmits them to a clinician for later asynchronous review rather than in real time.

In delay-tolerant networks and space communications, store-and-forward is essential for handling long or interrupted propagation delays: data is carried by intermediate nodes and stored until a link becomes available again, enabling communication in challenging or disconnected environments.

Key considerations include added latency, storage requirements, and security and privacy of stored data. The approach trades immediacy for reliability and reach, and is widely used in systems where continuous end-to-end paths are not guaranteed.