An endpoint of a bi-directional inter-process communication flow. This often refers to a process flow over a network connection, but by no means is limited to such. Not to be confused with WebSocket (a protocol) or other abstractions (e.g. socket.io).
In computer networking, a socket* is an endpoint of a bidirectional inter-process communication flow across an Internet Protocol-based computer network, such as the Internet.
An internet socket address is the combination of an IP address (the location of the computer) and a port (which is mapped to the application program process) into a single identity, much like one end of a telephone connection is the combination of a phone number and a particular extension. It is primarily used in the Transport Layer.
An example IPv4 socket appears as: 10.1.1.1:80
An example IPv6 socket appears as: [fe80::1]:80 (Note the brackets)
The term is believed to have originated with the Berkeley Sockets API for Unix ca. 1983.
Related tags are network-programming, network-protocols, udp, tcp and client-server.
* Not to be confused with websocket (a protocol) or other abstractions (e.g. socket.io).
Note to python programmers, especially beginners, using the socket module: A great many questions about non-working socket programs seem to be based on a common misunderstanding that is discussed and corrected in this answer as well as this one. Please take the time to read and understand that answer if you are having problems.
