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poller

poller

7.7
A program that regularly checks a server for updates
  • noun
  • /ˈpɒlər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : programa de monitoreo
  • To ensure data accuracy, the software includes a poller that retrieves metrics from the database at regular intervals.

Examples

  • The network engineer configured a poller to check the server's status every minute.

  • Write a poller that prints out memory stats with the process module once per minute.

    Blog text (17)
  • The IoT device uses a poller to communicate its readings to the central server.

Synonyms

watcher
vspoller
  • Specialized
7 6.4

A program that watches files or events and starts actions when they change

checks status at set times rather than waiting for changes to happen
monitor program
vspoller
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A computer tool that watches a system, reports problems, and can restart services

focuses on repeating status checks rather than broader control or regulation
pinger
vspoller
  • Jargon
6.3

A person or program that sends short messages to ask for a reply

regularly checks availability by scheduled queries rather than short messages
port watcher
vspoller
  • Specialized
6.3

A program that watches network ports and reports open or suspicious connections

checks availability regularly rather than continuously observing traffic
portwatcher
vspoller
  • Specialized
9.2

A program or device that watches computer network ports for unusual activity

checks availability regularly rather than focusing on port activity

How Often

to monitor
627 3.5
poller
  • Specialized
7.7
checker
34 3.0

Surface Forms

poller singular
pollers plural

Morphology

poller = poll (semi-transparent) = poll + er

Formed by the productive agentive suffix '-er' from the verb 'poll', but the computing sense 'to check status' is specialized and may be less familiar to average learners.

Etymology

The word poller comes from the old word poll, which meant 'head' and then 'to count heads' or votes. In computing a poller is a program or device that 'asks' a server again and again to check its status, so the old idea of counting helps explain why a poller keeps checking for updates.