What is the Difference Between Socket and Port?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a socket and a port lies in their functions and representations in computer networking:
- Socket: A socket is a combination of port and IP address, which serves as an endpoint for a communication link between two application processes. It represents a single connection between two network applications, allowing them to communicate with each other. Sockets are bidirectional and can be used for both interprocess communication on a single computer and for communication between different computers.
- Port: A port is a logical identifier assigned to a network process, allowing it to be identified uniquely within a system. It is used to identify both a machine and a service within the machine. Port numbers can be represented by a single number, and they are used by network devices to send and receive packets. The combination of a port and an IP address forms a socket.
In summary, a socket is a data communication endpoint that includes both the port and IP address, while a port is a logical identifier assigned to a network process to facilitate unique identification within a system.
Comparative Table: Socket vs Port
Here is a table comparing the differences between a socket and a port:
Feature | Socket | Port |
---|---|---|
Definition | A socket is a combination of an IP address and a port number that facilitates communication between two programs. | A port is a logical construct assigned to network processes so that they can be identified within a device. |
Representation | A socket address can be represented by (tcp, hostname, port number). | A port number can be represented by a single number, for example, 1028. |
Functionality | Sockets work as an inter-process communicator and are seen as the endpoint of the process communication. | Ports are used to identify a machine and a service within the machine. |
Communication | Sockets use a file descriptor and are mainly employed in client-server applications. | Ports help in network communication and are a part of the transport layer. |
In summary, sockets are the combination of an IP address and a port number that facilitate communication between two programs, while ports are logical constructs assigned to network processes for identification purposes.
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