StandardPorts

StandardPorts is a term used in networking to describe the set of port numbers officially standardized for widely used services. The concept is governed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and formalized through IETF RFCs, providing a stable address space that software and devices can rely on for interoperability.

Port numbers are divided into three ranges: well-known ports (0–1023), registered ports (1024–49151), and dynamic/private ports (49152–65535). StandardPorts typically refers to the well-known port range, where common services are assigned specific ports. Examples include HTTP on 80/TCP, HTTPS on 443/TCP, FTP on 21/TCP, SSH on 22/TCP, SMTP on 25/TCP, and DNS on 53 (UDP and TCP).

Registration and governance: IANA maintains the Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry, which maps service names to port numbers and transport protocols (TCP or UDP). Updates and new assignments follow procedures described in related RFCs, and changes are typically conservative to preserve broad compatibility.

Usage and security considerations: Applications bind to their designated StandardPort so clients can locate services reliably. While standard ports aid interoperability, they can become targets for abuse, so organizations use appropriate security measures such as firewalls, access controls, and encryption (for example, TLS on port 443). Administrators should avoid running unnecessary services on standard ports and apply principle of least privilege.

History and impact: StandardPorts have facilitated cross-platform software ecosystem compatibility and automated service discovery. They remain foundational for networked services, though ongoing security practices and occasional protocol updates continue to shape their use.

See also: IANA, RFC, Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry, TCP, UDP.