← Glossary
What does "pipe" mean in programming?
pipe is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
The | character. In shell it pipes the output of one command into the next. In TypeScript it separates union type members (string | number). In most languages || is the logical OR operator.
Example
"type ID = string | number; // pipe separates union members"
Related terms
Ready to practice your English at work?
Lingua-e has interactive exercises built around real developer conversations: standups, code reviews, retrospectives, and more. Practice until it comes naturally.
Try Lingua-e for free