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What is a Socket?

A socket is a network communication endpoint created either as a software or a hardware component that represents one end of a connected conversation. A socket allows for two-way communication, which often consists of requests from one application and responses from another.

How Do Sockets Work?

Sockets use TCP/IP protocols to establish connections between two systems. The two systems communicate with each other by writing data to the socket and reading the data from the socket. When one system initiates a request, the other system responds within the prescribed time frame.

Types of Sockets

There are two types of sockets: stream sockets and datagram sockets. Stream sockets, also known as connection-oriented sockets, rely on TCP to transfer data between the two machines. This type of socket is ideal for situations where the data is important and needs to be transferred securely and reliably. Datagram sockets, also known as connectionless sockets, are more efficient than stream sockets but less reliable. They don’t require the two machines to establish a connection beforehand and can be used when the data doesn’t have to be transferred securely or reliably.

Uses of Sockets

Sockets are commonly used in client-server applications. The server uses a listening socket to accept incoming connections and the clients use connecting sockets to connect to the server. Sockets can also be used to create peer-to-peer applications, allowing two machines to directly communicate with each other without the need for a central server. This can be useful in many scenarios like file sharing, gaming and multimedia streaming.