A socket in computer networking is an endpoint for sending or receiving data across a network. It is part of the Internet Protocol (IP) suite and allows communication between applications on different devices, typically using TCP/IP protocols. A socket combines the IP address and the port number, which together form a unique identifier for network communication. It enables processes to exchange data over a network, whether on a local machine or across the internet. Sockets can be used for various communication types, including connection-oriented (TCP) or connectionless (UDP), depending on the needs of the application.
