Socket

Definitions

1. A software endpoint for bidirectional communication between two processes, identified by an IP address and port number for network sockets (TCP/UDP) or a filesystem path for Unix domain sockets. The POSIX socket API (socket, bind, listen, accept, connect) is the foundational interface for virtually all network programming.

   In plain English: A communication channel that lets two programs send data back and forth, whether they're on the same computer or across the internet.

   Example: "The server binds a TCP socket to port 8080 and accepts up to 128 connections in the listen backlog."

Related Terms

• Service Mesh
• Client
• Cut
• Domain
• HTTP
• Network Stack
• Port
• Unix Domain Socket