(1) In APPC, a reference point during transaction processing to which resources can be restored if a failure occurs.
(2) In OSI, a point to which a session can be reset. Setting a synchronization point requires the appropriate token. Synchronization points are a session-layer service.
(3) A point in time from which IMS or an application program can start over if a failure makes recovery necessary. The two types of synchronization points are system checkpoints done by IMS itself, and application program synchronization points (also known as commit points) done on behalf of individual application programs. See also commit point, system checkpoint.