Mastering Socket Programming in C: Guide for Network Programming
A key component of network programming, in which communication takes place across sockets, is socket programming in c. Endpoints of communication channels known as sockets give two programmes a way to share data with one another. Programmers may create networked programmes that can interact using a variety of protocols, including TCP, UDP, and others, by using the socket programming feature of the C language.
We will examine the fundamentals of socket programming in C and comprehend its importance in network programming in this post. Additionally, we will learn about the various socket types, socket APIs, and socket programming strategies.
Introduction to Socket Programming in C
Socket APIs, a collection of methods that serve as a communication interface between the application and the network protocol stack, are used to programme sockets in the C programming language. A standardised interface for network communication is provided by the socket API, which may be used on a variety of platforms and operating systems.
A special identifier known as the IP address, which is made up of the host address and the port number, is used to identify sockets. The system on which the programme is operating is identified by the host address, but the application that is being used to communicate is identified by the port number.
Types of Sockets
There are two types of sockets in socket programming: Stream sockets and Datagram sockets.
Stream sockets: Stream sockets give two processes a dependable, two-way byte-stream communication channel. Data is transferred sequentially and in an organised manner to ensure that it gets to the other end in the same order that it was sent. The most used protocol for stream sockets is called Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
Datagram sockets: Datagram sockets give two processes a shaky, connectionless channel of communication. Datagrams, the packets used for data transmission, might arrive at the other end in any sequence or not at all. The most used protocol for datagram sockets is the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
Socket APIs
In order to facilitate communication between the application and the network protocol stack, socket APIs offer a collection of functions. The most used socket APIs in C are shown below.
Socket(): To create a new socket with the supplied protocol and type, use the socket() method.
Bind(): The socket can be bound to a specified IP address and port using the bind() method.
Listen(): Use the listen() method to keep an eye out for new connections arriving into the socket.
Accept(): The accept() method receives incoming connection requests and establishes a new communication socket.
Connect(): Using the provided IP address and port number, the connect() method connects to a remote host.
Send() and Receive(): Data is sent and received over the socket using the send() and receive() procedures.
Socket Programming in C: Techniques
Socket programming in C language can be implemented using two different techniques: Synchronous and Asynchronous.
- Programming in a synchronous manner means that the application waits for the socket’s response before executing the next command. Small apps that don’t need a lot of network connections can use this strategy.
- Asynchronous programming is the process of running an application while a socket is sending or receiving data in the background. Large-scale applications requiring several network connections can use this strategy.
Conclusion
Communication between programmes running on various computers is made possible through network programming, which includes socket programming in C language. Programmers may design networked programmes that can communicate over many protocols with the aid of socket APIs. Anyone interested in network programming must have a solid understanding of socket programming fundamentals, socket types, socket APIs, and socket programming approaches.