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Software Architecture

Dead Letter Queue

/ded ˈletər kjuː/

Definition

A message queue that receives messages which failed processing after the maximum retry limit.

Example in context

"Failed payment events go to the DLQ — we alert if more than 5 messages accumulate in an hour."

Related terms

  • Circuit breaker — A pattern that detects failures in service calls and temporarily stops sending requests to an unhealthy service.

Practice this term

Master Dead Letter Queue in context by working through exercises in the Software Architecture module. You'll see the term used in real engineering scenarios with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching drills.

Practice in exercises → Browse all words

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Dead Letter Queue" mean?

A message queue that receives messages which failed processing after the maximum retry limit.

How do you pronounce "Dead Letter Queue"?

"Dead Letter Queue" is pronounced /ded ˈletər kjuː/.

Can you use "Dead Letter Queue" in a sentence?

"Failed payment events go to the DLQ — we alert if more than 5 messages accumulate in an hour."