Java Networking: What is networking in Java?
In this article, we will cover what networking is in Java, different protocols used in networking, and various other essential keywords, but before that, let us know what networking means?
What is networking?
“Networking is generally defined as the medium of transferring the data, files from one device to another device or from one computer to another one.”
What is networking in Java?
In simple words, “Java networking is usually defined as the medium of connecting two or more computer-related devices to share resources (data and information). The communication of Java programs over a network is usually done at the application layer only. And the devices generally communicate with each other using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).”
The most crucial point is that the java.net package usually provides the required classes for the java network. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is generally used by the URL (Uniform Resource Locator), Socket, ServerSocket, and URLConnection classes. In contrast, the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is used by the DatagramPacket, DatagramSocket, and MulticastSocket classes.
Networking Protocols
1. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is generally considered the primary protocol of the Internet protocol suite. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) usually lies between the Application and Network Layers, which are generally used in providing reliable delivery of particular services.
2. User Datagram Protocol: The User Datagram Protocol is another crucial protocol used in java networking. The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is the most straightforward Transport Layer Communication Protocol available from the TCP/IP protocol suite. In User Datagram Protocol (UDP), the receiver does not generate the acknowledgment of the packet received, and therefore, the sender, in turn, did not wait for the acknowledgment to be received from the receiver end about the packet sent; due to this, User Datagram Protocol (UDP) protocol was considered as the unreliable transport protocol.
The Various Java networking classes associated with Java networking are as follows:
1) CookieHandler: The CookieHandler is generally considered one of the essential java networking classes used to implement a callback mechanism for securing an HTTP state management policy implementation inside the HTTP protocol handler.
2) Proxy: Another most crucial java networking class. A proxy is usually defined as a changeless object and a kind of system which is responsible for protecting the data of its users and computers.
3) URL (Uniform Resource Locator) Class: Java Uniform Resource Locator (URL) class which mainly deals with the URL (Uniform Resource Locator). It is considered the entry point to any available resources on the internet, for example, https://www.javatpoint.com.
4) Socket and Socket Server class: In general terms, the Socket is generally used to establish a particular connection with reference to the port, which is usually a socket numbered on a particular machine. The Socket provides a communication mechanism between the two working computers via Transmission Control Protocol. Generally, there are two types of sockets that are available in java networking. They are as follows:
o ServerSocket: which is used for the servers.
o Socket: is the class that is used for the client.
5) Socket: If we are talking about the Socket, then it is usually a class that is used to create socket objects that helps the programmer or the user in the implementation of all the fundamental socket operations needed.
The various important terminologies associated with the Java networking are as follows:
1. IP Address: The IP Address is generally defined as the special unique number which is assigned to the particular node of the network to make it distinguishable from the other node. An IP Address the IP stands for the "Internet Protocol."The IP Address is generally composed of the octet, which usually ranges from 0 to 255.
2. Protocol: A protocol in terms of networks is generally defined as the set of commands or rules that defines how the data is to be transmitted between the different devices within the same network. It plays an important role in the part of the communications. For example, TCP, POP, etc.
3. Port Number: A port number is generally defined as the method that, in turn, is used to identify the particular process which is connecting to the internet or other network when it reaches the particular server. A port number is used to act as a communication endpoint between the various applications.
4. MAC Address: MAC Address is an acronym for the Media Access Control Address. A MAC address is defined as the hardware identification number that uniquely identifies every and each device present on the particular network.MAC address is usually composed of hexadecimal numbers.
5. Connection-oriented and connection-less protocol: In connection-oriented service, the main thing is that the user must focus on establishing a connection before proceeding with the communication. But in the connection-less protocol, the data or the information is transferred from the source to the destination via a single route without verifying whether the destination is available with the connectivity.
Example: TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is an example of a connection-based, and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is an example of a connection-less protocol.
6. Socket: A socket in Java is usually considered as one endpoint of a two-way communication link between the two programs running on the particular network.