"sockets / WinSock"

Definition: sockets / WinSock: In programming, the "sockets" interface is the most common way that coders use to access the network. Sockets works by creating a "file handle" that when written to, sends data over the network rather than to a file on the hard-disk. Contrast: Other interfaces programmers could use are higher-level abstractions like RPC, or lower-level "raw" interfaces like libnet. Contrast: Sockets originally came from UNIX, but has been ported to other platforms. In particular, the "WinSock" variant for Windows includes both the UNIX-style functions as well as the Windows-style functions. It is possible to write sockets-based programs that compile for both platforms. Key point: The name "sockets" comes from the TCP/IP term "socket". A socket is minimum information necessary needed to communication on the network: the source/destination IP address, the source/destination port, and the transport protocol (UDP or TCP). From Hacking-Lexicon

* Linux/Unix/Computing Glossary