Network interface
A Network interface is a systems (software and/or hardware) interface between two pieces of equipment or protocol layers in a network.
A network interface will usually have some form of network address. This may consist of a node Id and a port number or may be a full fledged network Id.
Network interfaces provide standardised functions such as passing messages, connecting and disconnecting etc. 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