What are the differences between socket and pipe in Unix/Linux programming?

Differences Between Socket and Pipe in Unix/Linux Programming

In Unix/Linux programming, sockets and pipes are essential communication mechanisms for inter-process communication. Here are the key differences between sockets and pipes:

1. Socket:
   - Sockets can be used for communication between processes running on the same system or on different systems over a network.
   - They provide bidirectional communication and can be used for both TCP and UDP communications.
   - Sockets can be either connection-oriented (e.g., TCP) or connectionless (e.g., UDP).
   - Socket communication is more flexible and scalable compared to pipes.
   - Error handling and security features are more robust in socket programming.
2. Pipe:
   - Pipes are used for communication between processes running on the same system only.
   - They provide unidirectional communication, typically from the output of one process to the input of another process.
   - Pipes are created using the pipe() system call and are suitable for communication within a single system.
   - Communication through pipes is typically faster and more efficient for inter-process communication within the same system.
   - Pipes are simpler to implement and use compared to sockets.

Overall, the choice between using sockets and pipes depends on the specific requirements of the communication and the scalability needed for the application.