Python Socket Programming

Python socket programming refers to the process of creating network communication between devices using sockets, which are endpoints for sending and receiving data across a network. Sockets allow programs to establish connections and exchange data over the network, enabling communication between a client and a server or between two processes on different devices.

Python provides a built-in socket module that simplifies the implementation of socket programming. This module offers classes and functions to create both client-side and server-side sockets.

In socket programming, there are two primary types of sockets:

1. Server Socket: A server socket waits for incoming client connections on a specified port. It listens for client requests and accepts incoming connections, allowing clients to connect and communicate with the server.
2. Client Socket: A client socket initiates a connection to a server socket. It provides a means for the client to connect to the server and exchange data.

The typical workflow of socket programming involves the following steps:

1. Import the socket module: Begin by importing the necessary module for socket programming.
2. Create a socket object: Create a socket object using the socket class. Specify the type of socket (IPv4 or IPv6) and the socket protocol (TCP or UDP).
3. Bind the socket (server only): For a server socket, bind the socket to a specific address (IP address) and port number to listen for incoming client connections.
4. Listen for connections (server only): In the case of a server socket, start listening for incoming client connections using the?listen()?method.
5. Accept client connections (server only): After starting to listen, the server socket accepts incoming client connections using the?accept()?method, which returns a new socket object representing the connection with the client.
6. Connect to a server (client only): For a client socket, use the?connect()?method to establish a connection with a server socket. Provide the server’s IP address and port number.
7. Send and receive data: Once a connection is established, both the client and server sockets can send and receive data using the?send()?and?recv()?methods respectively.
8. Close the connection: After the communication is complete, close the socket connection using the?close()?method.

Socket programming in Python offers a versatile and powerful way to implement network communication, enabling various applications such as web servers, chat applications, file transfer protocols, and more

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