Differences Between Socket and Pipe

When it comes to inter-process communication in Unix/Linux systems, sockets and pipes are two commonly used methods. Understanding the differences between them is crucial for optimal system performance and functionality.

Socket

• A socket is a communication endpoint that allows processes to communicate over a network or between different processes on the same machine.
• Socket communication can be both connection-oriented (like TCP) or connectionless (like UDP).
• Socket communication is bidirectional, allowing data to be transferred in both directions simultaneously.
• Sockets can be used for communication between processes running on different machines.

Pipe

• A pipe is a mechanism for inter-process communication within the same system.
• Pipes are unidirectional, meaning data can only flow in one direction at a time.
• Pipes are typically used for communication between a parent process and its child processes.
• Pipes are created using the pipe() system call and are implemented using shared memory buffers.

Overall, sockets are more versatile and suitable for communication between processes running on different machines, while pipes are more suitable for communication within the same system between related processes.

Understanding when to use sockets and pipes is essential for efficient communication and interaction between processes in a Unix/Linux environment.