Critical Attributes

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This section explains the critical attributes of sockets.

Sockets share certain critical attributes that no other IPC mechanisms feature:
  • Provide a two-way communication path.
  • Include a socket type and one or more associated processes.
  • Exist within communication domains.
  • Do not require a common ancestor to set up the communication.

Application programs request the operating system to create a socket when one is needed. The operating system returns an integer that the application program uses to reference the newly created socket. Unlike file descriptors, the operating system can create sockets without binding them to a specific destination address. The application program can choose to supply a destination address each time it uses the socket.