What is a socket in networking?

A socket in networking serves as a fundamental endpoint for sending and receiving data across a network. It is defined as a combination of an IP address and a port number, which together uniquely identify a process to establish communication between devices. The IP address specifies the location of a host on the network, while the port number determines the specific service or application that is being accessed on that host. This combination allows multiple applications to run on the same device and communicate over the network without interfering with each other, as each will use a different port number associated with the same IP address.

Understanding the role of a socket is crucial for networking because it facilitates the establishment of connections for data exchange. This concept underpins many networking protocols and applications, enabling effective communication in both local and wide area networks.