37
ELI5: In computer networking, what is a port?
(lemmy.world)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023
37 points (100.0% liked)
Explain Like I'm Five
14299 readers
1 users here now
Simplifying Complexity, One Answer at a Time!
Rules
- Be respectful and inclusive.
- No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
- Engage in constructive discussions.
- Share relevant content.
- Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
- Use appropriate language and tone.
- Report violations.
- Foster a continuous learning environment.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
Your IP address is like the main office number for your computer. The ports are like internal extension numbers.
When you're setting up a program and it's asking you what logical port it should use, It's asking you which extension it should be using. Just like if you were dealing with phone numbers and phone systems you have to give it a number that's not already in use, and it probably makes sense to give it a number that is known for that type of service.