What is the Difference Between Socket and Port?

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:

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.