XDP
XDP (eXpress Data Path) is a high-performance packet processing framework in the Linux kernel that allows programs to run directly in the network driver, enabling fast packet filtering, forwarding, and load balancing at line rate. It operates at the earliest possible point in the network stack, bypassing much of the kernel's overhead for improved efficiency and low latency. XDP is commonly used for DDoS mitigation, firewalling, and network monitoring in data centers and cloud environments.
Developers should learn XDP when building network-intensive applications that require ultra-low latency and high throughput, such as real-time security solutions, load balancers, or network analytics tools. It is particularly valuable in scenarios where traditional kernel networking or user-space packet processing (like DPDK) is insufficient due to performance bottlenecks or complexity, offering a balance of speed and kernel integration.