(1) (noun) Any data transmitted over a network that is intended for human interpretation. Just as a program becomes a "job" or "process" when it runs in the computer, data becomes a "message" when it is transmitted from one person to another. Email, text and chat are examples. See
communications protocol,
email,
text messaging and
instant messaging.
(2) (verb) To send a message. For example, "message me" means send me a text or instant message. See
text messaging and
instant messaging.
(3) In object technology, communicating between objects, similar to a function call in traditional programming. See
object-oriented programming.