Writepacket

Writepacket is a common, generic name used for a function or method in various networking libraries and tools that transmits a raw network packet to a destination or interface. Because it is not standardized across languages or platforms, the exact signature and behavior of writepacket vary by implementation, but the core idea is to send data without higher-level protocol processing.

In practice, writepacket typically takes a buffer containing a complete link-layer frame or a constructed packet payload and sends it through a raw socket, a packet injection API, or an interface handle. On platforms that expose raw sockets (for example, using AF_PACKET or PF_PACKET on Unix-like systems), writepacket may require you to specify the target interface and, in some cases, the destination address at the link layer. Some libraries also offer a high-level wrapper that hides socket details and accepts a packet object or byte array along with metadata such as the interface name.

Permissions and safety are important considerations. Writing raw packets generally requires elevated privileges (such as root or appropriate capabilities). Incorrect usage can disrupt network traffic or violate policies, so writepacket is typically used in testing, packet crafting, intrusion-detection research, and similar, controlled contexts.

Related concepts include raw sockets, packet capture and injection libraries, and packet crafting frameworks. Because writepacket is not a single standardized function, users should consult the specific library’s documentation for exact signatures, parameters, and platform support.