What's the difference between polling and pulling?

Question

What's the difference between polling and pulling (if any)?

Uh, context? I will guess that polling is asking a server every now and then if something of interest has changed. I'd guess that pulling is querying a server and getting a result set back. — FrustratedWithFormsDesigner, May 03 '10 at 21:10
The meaning of those words is determined by the context they are used in. In general, they are the same idea. — Kevin Panko, May 03 '10 at 21:10
The difference is 0x06, at least in ASCII. EBCDIC may be different :-) — paxdiablo, May 03 '10 at 21:12
@Kevin no, I don't think they're the same. For one thing, think of the direct objects to the two verbs: one "polls" a server, but one only "pulls" a server when you need to move it to another room. — Pointy, May 03 '10 at 21:13
I want to know the prounciation diffference with poll and pull. — Zhang, Jul 17 '19 at 04:30

Pointy · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-03T21:16:55.423

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They're two distinct words. To "poll" is to ask for an answer. To "pull" is to use force to move (actually or conceptually) something towards oneself (again, actually or conceptually).

One "polls" a server when software on a client periodically asks the server for something. One "pulls" data from a database towards client software.

Note that both words have various distinct uses even within the world of computing, but I can't think of any case where they're interchangeable in such a way as to leave meaning unchanged. Low-level device driver code may "poll" an interface to check whether it's ready for some operation, and there's no network traffic involved. In electronics, one "pulls" a signal up or down.

Clients may both "poll" a server and "pull" data from a server, but note that when I use each verb I use different direct objects. It only makes sense to say "pull the server" when you're dragging it across the computer room floor.

edited May 03 '10 at 21:16

answered May 03 '10 at 21:10

Pointy

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usually client polls server, so your example need clarification – Andrey May 03 '10 at 21:12
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+1 though I could see "pull the server" as in "pull (from) the server" =) – amara May 28 '11 at 14:54
@Vuntic To "pull the server" would mean that one is moving the server closer to oneself. The meaning is clearly and distinctly different without the preposition "from" interposed. – Pointy May 28 '11 at 14:56
hehe =) I know! But it remains that I (and probably a great many people; I'm not that quirky) would probably understand someone who talked about pulling the server as in pulling data from the server. Not that it wouldn't sound a bit weird. – amara May 29 '11 at 02:18
@Vuntic yes, language is a squishy thing, and the meaning of words changes all the time! – Pointy May 29 '11 at 02:41
@Pointy I think polling requires&includes indirectly pulling data, because you are not polling for the sake of asking, rather you are polling for the sake of pulling the data. Now pulling can be possible or not depending on the availability of the data, like if you pull something it can be pulled or not. – Mosab Shaheen Sep 18 '17 at 07:47
@MosabShaheen I like this definition I think it gives some clarity. A client may poll with the "hopes" of pulling data. But the poll request may result in not pulling data as well. – uh_big_mike_boi Jun 21 '22 at 23:11

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered May 03 '10 at 21:13

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Poll is like when Gallup does a poll of the American people. They are querying for specific information by asking a question.

Pull is like what you do to a rope. You want the rope (or a file, or some data) to be in your location, so you pull it towards you.

answered May 03 '10 at 21:13

mathmike

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Everybody is a comedian - Or as McEnroe would say "You can't be serious", brace yourself and wait for the dings, they will surly come. – Romain Hippeau May 03 '10 at 21:16
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I think this is a serious answer. – Kevin Panko May 03 '10 at 21:17
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@Romain: It illustrates the difference pretty clearly. Whattsa matter? Ya don't like examples that are clear *and* humourous? – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner May 03 '10 at 21:23

score 7 · Answer 3 · answered May 03 '10 at 21:10

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There is a possible slight difference.

Polling is attempting to request information at set intervals.

Pulling just refers to the fact that you are requesting data from somebody else rather than having them send it to you.

That being said, I've heard them used interchangeably.

answered May 03 '10 at 21:10

Justin Niessner

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At some levels they're the same (you're asking something to give you information) and at other levels they're completely different (short status update versus full record sets). Oh, and they're also pronounced very similarly (in English) but you shouldn't let that confuse you into thinking they're *that* similar. – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner May 03 '10 at 21:11

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered May 03 '10 at 21:11

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With respect to network communications, they both refer to the same scheme, where you are periodically requesting data from an external source. See Pull Technology.

Of course the opposite is Pushing, where data is sent as it becomes available.

answered May 03 '10 at 21:11

Justin Ethier

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I would argue that those meanings are really not the same. – Pointy May 03 '10 at 21:12

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 04 '20 at 16:19

A poll is quick request while a pull is a slow demand.

One may poll asking if information is immediately available which can be pulled. The distinction is not that the answer to a poll must be boolean, but that the answer to a poll is quick and readily available or the answer will be denied. A poll implies that a choice is being offered which is contrary to a pull, where no choice is offered. A pull may cause the caller to wait for the information to become available or may offer other means of returning the detailed information to the caller later when it actually becomes available.

What's the difference between polling and pulling?

5 Answers5