Introduction to Sockets in Java

In Java, sockets provide a mechanism for communication between two applications over a network. Java's java.net package includes classes that facilitate the creation, connection, and communication through sockets.

Socket Basics

Java supports both TCP and UDP sockets. Here's a brief overview:

TCP Sockets

• ServerSocket Class:

  • Represents a server-side socket that listens for incoming connections.
  • Created using ServerSocket class.

• Socket Class:

  • Represents a client-side socket that connects to a server.
  • Created using the Socket class.

UDP Sockets

• DatagramSocket Class:
  • Used for connectionless communication.
  • Datagram packets can be sent and received using DatagramSocket class.

Practice Exercises

For practical exercises related to Java sockets, check out the Exercises branch.