A network port can refer to a hardware access point, physical connection, or software system that divides network traffic. It allows computers to handle multiple activities simultaneously and follows guidelines with numbered ports.
A network port is a common way to refer to three different things. Network access points, such as a home router, are often called network ports. The second common meaning refers to the actual location where a network cable connects to an access point or computer. These physical ports provide users with access to local networks and the Internet. The last common usage for this type of port refers to the software system that allows computers to handle multiple network activities simultaneously. These ports divide network traffic into a series of individual feeds so that information and services remain separate.
When users refer to a hardware network port, it is usually one of two things. A network access point, such as a router, switch, or modem, can be referred to as a port. This is especially common when discussing wireless networks, where the term “wireless port” is used to refer to the router to which the system connects. The other common hardware network port is the actual connection to the network. In this case, the small rectangular hole where the ethernet cable plugs into your computer, router, or modem is the port. This usage is a holdover from older computer terms such as serial port or communication port.
The latter usage for the network port is based on software rather than hardware. By this definition, a port is a software-based, not a physical, location within your computer. These ports divide network traffic and network-based services into segments. The computer is able to prioritize and process these segments individually, just as it does with internal processes.
By splitting network feeds, a computer can send and receive from multiple sources simultaneously. Each active network port is capable of receiving information directly to it. For example, if a process was running on port 1000, that specific network port could be sending and receiving information. Outgoing information would have port 1000 referenced as the sender, and information sent back would specifically go to port 1000. If a computer kept a hundred different ports, they would all do the same thing.
In this situation, a network port follows certain guidelines on all computers. The port can be any number between zero and 65535, but many of the ports below 1024 are required for specific Internet activity. Processes like web browsing, email, and telnet all have default ports where your computer constantly monitors for activity. Other programs, such as video games or download programs, have user-defined or program-defined ports that the computer activates only when the program is running.
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