Capterra Glossary
A socket is an endpoint (software component) within a network communications flow. Sockets are typically used by software platforms that use the client-server model.
In the client-server model, a network server creates a socket and assigns it a network port address (a number used to identify a connection endpoint). The client then creates their own socket and connects to the server socket to receive and send information.
Software development companies often use sockets to give their software solutions the ability to maintain network connection in real time, which is crucial for web-based applications to function properly.
Small and midsize software development companies often use sockets to speed up the software development process. By using sockets, developers can easily create network-enabled programs without having to configure network connections for each program they write. Instead, software developers can simply include sockets in their programs to facilitate the transfer of data over a network, saving valuable time and resources.