What Is a Socket?
a Socket — one endpoint of a network conversation — the combination of an IP address and a port number (like 192.168.1.10:443) that uniquely identifies who is talking.
How it works
A connection is defined by its socket pair: source IP:port ↔ destination IP:port. Your browser might be 192.168.1.10:52814 talking to a server's 203.0.113.5:443. Thousands of simultaneous connections stay untangled because each has a unique combination.
Why it matters
Sockets explain how one server IP hosts many services (different ports) and how NAT/PAT multiplexes many clients through one public address (different source ports) — connective tissue for several CCNA topics.
Frequently asked questions
What makes up a socket?
An IP address plus a port number — together identifying one endpoint of one conversation.
How do servers handle thousands of clients at once?
Each client connection has a distinct source IP:port, so every socket pair remains unique and separable.
What is a socket pair?
The two endpoints of a connection: source IP:port and destination IP:port — the full identity of a session.
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