A lightweight messaging method and apparatus that includes creating a temporary receive data area, and if a receive operation is seen first, then creating an operational receive data area, and waiting for a corresponding send operation to fill the operational receive data area with sent data; and if the send operation is seen first, then filling the temporary receive data area with sent data, when the corresponding receive operation is seen, creating the operational receive data area, and moving the sent data from the temporary receive data area to the operational receive data area.