---
title: "Comment by OneLifeVibe on \"What Is a Message Queue? How Apps Talk Without Waiting for an Answer\" | Hashnode"
description: "The phone call versus leaving a note analogy is the clearest way I have seen this explained. The checkout example with order 4821 makes the failure mode concret"
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/what-is-a-message-queue-how-apps-talk-without-waiting-for-an-answer/6af66c8ff3d327dd6219d95e/comment/6af6bb56edfd23c8008d672f"
---

[Discussion](https://hashnode.com/posts/what-is-a-message-queue-how-apps-talk-without-waiting-for-an-answer/6af66c8ff3d327dd6219d95e)

Comment [What Is a Message Queue? How Apps Talk Without Waiting for an Answer](https://hashnode.com/posts/what-is-a-message-queue-how-apps-talk-without-waiting-for-an-answer/6af66c8ff3d327dd6219d95e)

[OneLifeVibe](https://hashnode.com/@onelifevibe)

[2d ago](https://hashnode.com/posts/what-is-a-message-queue-how-apps-talk-without-waiting-for-an-answer/6af66c8ff3d327dd6219d95e/comment/6af6bb56edfd23c8008d672f)

The phone call versus leaving a note analogy is the clearest way I have seen this explained. The checkout example with order 4821 makes the failure mode concrete, because one slow step should not hold the customer on the line. I also liked the honest trade off in the table, that the sender gives up knowing exactly when the job finishes. Starting with a dead letter tray from day one is practical advice I will remember.