Explain the concept of port numbers in internet protocols.

Internet Protocols Questions



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Explain the concept of port numbers in internet protocols.

Port numbers in internet protocols are used to identify specific processes or services running on a device connected to a network. They act as virtual addresses for communication between devices. Port numbers range from 0 to 65535 and are divided into three categories: well-known ports (0-1023), registered ports (1024-49151), and dynamic or private ports (49152-65535). Well-known ports are assigned to specific services such as HTTP (port 80) or FTP (port 21), while registered ports are used by applications that are not as widely known. Dynamic or private ports are used for temporary connections and are assigned dynamically by the operating system. By using port numbers, internet protocols ensure that data is sent to the correct process or service on a device, enabling effective communication between devices on a network.