NetIO

NetIO, or netio, is a broad term for software components and libraries that handle network input/output operations. It includes APIs and abstractions that enable programs to send and receive data over network connections, typically using protocols such as TCP and UDP. The term is used across multiple programming languages and platforms.

Design goals include efficiency, scalability, and portability. NetIO solutions often implement asynchronous or non-blocking I/O, event-driven architectures, and I/O multiplexing to manage many connections with limited threads. They provide mechanisms for connection management, buffering, error handling, and optionally protocol parsing.

Common contexts and examples: used by web servers, messaging brokers, game servers, and client applications that require robust networking. In different ecosystems, implementations vary: some offer low-level socket wrappers, others provide higher-level abstractions like streams, channels, or dispatch queues. Popular language ecosystems include C/C++ with libraries that offer event loops, Java with NIO-based frameworks, and Python with asyncio-based approaches.

Note about ambiguity: Because "netio" is a generic term and also used as the name of several separate projects, readers should consult the specific project's documentation to understand its API, features, licensing, and compatibility. The article is about the general concept of network I/O rather than a particular product.