Võrgupovendid

Võrgupovendid, also known as network sockets or just sockets, are fundamental programming interfaces that facilitate communication between different processes, often across a network. They act as endpoints for sending and receiving data. Imagine them as a doorway through which information can travel. A socket is defined by an IP address and a port number, specifying both the destination machine and the specific application on that machine.

There are two primary types of sockets: stream sockets and datagram sockets. Stream sockets, commonly associated with the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), provide a reliable, ordered, and error-checked stream of data. This means data arrives in the order it was sent, and any lost packets are retransmitted. They are ideal for applications where data integrity is paramount, such as web browsing or file transfer.

Datagram sockets, typically using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), offer a simpler, connectionless communication method. Data is sent in discrete packets, called datagrams, without any guarantee of delivery, order, or error checking. While less reliable, datagram sockets are faster and more efficient, making them suitable for applications like online gaming, video streaming, or DNS lookups where speed is more critical than absolute reliability.

Programmers use socket APIs provided by operating systems to create, bind, connect, send, and receive data. This abstract interface allows applications to communicate without needing to understand the intricate details of the underlying network protocols.