Client socket

In computer science, a client socket is a tool for establishing networked computer communication between a server and client initiated by the client. A client socket forms one endpoint in a client–server socket relationship.

Following inception, a client socket assists in handling lower-level network functions by forming and sending a request to a waiting server, which then processes the received data. Depending, the client socket may also listen for and receive a reply from the server—usually pertaining to the data the server received immediately prior. Both client and server sockets are required in a functional socket-based connection. Unlike their server socket counterparts, client sockets are typically destroyed after the data transfer, preventing further actions on it; hence, client sockets are often used for single data exchanges and more suited for such than server sockets are. .

See also

• Socket
• Server Socket