Network interface

This article is about a computer. For telecommuncations connections, see Network interface device. For other uses, see Interface (disambiguation).

In computing, a network interface is a software or hardware (computing)|interface]] between two pieces of equipment or layer]]s

A network interface will usually have some form of network address. This may consist of a node identifier and a port number or may be a unique node ID in its own right.

Network interfaces provide standardized functions such as passing messages, connecting and disconnecting, etc.

Examples

• Computer port (hardware), an interface to other computers or peripherals
• Network interface controller, the device a computer uses to connect to a computer network
• Network interface device, a demarcation point for a telephone network
• Network socket, a software interface to the network
• Port (computer networking), a protocol interface to the network