Internet Protocols Questions Medium
In Internet Protocols, port numbers are used to identify specific processes or services running on a device within a network. A port number is a 16-bit integer, ranging from 0 to 65535, and it is assigned to a specific application or service.
Port numbers are divided into three ranges: well-known ports (0-1023), registered ports (1024-49151), and dynamic or private ports (49152-65535). Well-known ports are reserved for commonly used services such as HTTP (port 80), FTP (port 21), and SMTP (port 25). Registered ports are assigned by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to specific applications or services. Dynamic or private ports are used by client applications for temporary connections.
When a device receives a packet of data, the port number is used to determine which application or service should handle the data. The combination of an IP address and a port number forms a unique socket, allowing multiple applications to run simultaneously on a device.
Port numbers are an essential part of the TCP/IP protocol suite, enabling reliable communication between devices over the internet. They ensure that data is correctly routed to the appropriate application or service, allowing for efficient and secure network communication.