SMB Protocol
The Server Message Block (SMB) protocol is a network file sharing protocol that allows applications on a computer to read and write to files and request services from server programs in a computer network. It enables shared access to files, printers, serial ports, and other resources between nodes on a network, primarily used in Windows environments but also supported on Unix-like systems through implementations like Samba. SMB operates as an application-layer network protocol, facilitating client-server communication for file and printer sharing.
Developers should learn SMB when working in Windows-based enterprise environments, building applications that require network file sharing, or integrating systems that need cross-platform file access (e.g., using Samba on Linux). It's essential for scenarios like setting up network drives, implementing file servers, or developing software that interacts with shared resources in corporate networks, where SMB is the de facto standard for Windows file sharing.