4.7. Direct Exchange

A Direct Exchange routes messages to queues where there is an exact match between the binding key of the queue and the subject of the message (routing key).

Note as you look at this picture that multiple queues can bind to a Direct Exchange with the same binding key. In the diagram we see one message going to one queue, but if other queues on that exchange have the same binding key, they will also receive the message.

A Direct Exchange is a specialization of the Topic Exchange. Effectively, a Direct Exchange is a Topic Exchange where there are no wildcards used, or allowed, on the binding key.

The Direct Exchange also supports exclusive binding, so that a queue can guarantee that it is the only recipient of messages sent to the Direct Exchange with the routing key used to exclusively bind the queue to the exchange.