Network Sockets
Network sockets are software endpoints that enable bidirectional communication between processes over a network, using protocols like TCP or UDP. They provide an abstraction for sending and receiving data across different machines, allowing applications to establish connections, transmit data streams, and handle network interactions programmatically. Sockets are fundamental to networked applications, from web servers to real-time messaging systems.
Developers should learn network sockets when building applications that require direct network communication, such as client-server architectures, peer-to-peer systems, or custom protocols. They are essential for implementing low-level networking features, debugging network issues, or creating performance-critical systems where higher-level abstractions (like HTTP libraries) are insufficient. Mastery of sockets is crucial for roles in systems programming, game development, or IoT, where fine-grained control over data transmission is needed.