What is the function of SOCK_STREAM?

Question

I am learning about sockets in Python and came up with

variable = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

I understood the function of this socket.socket and socket.AF_INET but I am curious about socket.SOCK_STREAM. What is its function?

score 45 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 01 '16 at 14:41

45

SOCK_STREAM means that it is a TCP socket.

SOCK_DGRAM means that it is a UDP socket.

These are used 99% of the time. There are other possibilities as well, see https://docs.python.org/2/library/socket.html#socket.SOCK_STREAM (you will have to google for the meaning of each one).

answered Mar 01 '16 at 14:41

freakish

2

Is there a reason why they didn't just name it SOCK_TCP and SOCK_UDP? – Rockstar5645 Mar 09 '20 at 22:17
1

@Rockstar5645 generally tcp/udp is sock_stream/dgram over ip4/6. But sock_stream/dgram can mean other things, see this, third answer: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5815675/what-is-sock-dgram-and-sock-stream/10810040 But typically, like 99% of time it will be tcp/udp. – freakish Mar 09 '20 at 22:56

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 01 '16 at 14:41

9

SOCK_STREAM is a constant indicating the type of socket (TCP), as opposed to SOCK_DGRAM (UDP).

answered Mar 01 '16 at 14:41

shafeen

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 04 '17 at 12:39

5

The SOCK_STREAM means connection-oriented TCP protocol.

answered Nov 04 '17 at 12:39

Abhish

3 Answers3