Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Network interface

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In computing, a network interface is a system's (software and/or hardware) interface between two pieces of equipment or protocol layers in a computer network.

A network interface will usually have some form of network address. This may consist of a node ID and a port number or may be a unique node ID in its own right.

Network interfaces provide standardized functions such as passing messages, connecting and disconnecting, etc.

Examples

  • Computer port (hardware), an interface to other computers or peripherals
  • Network interface controller, the device a computer uses to connect to a computer network
  • Network interface device, a demarcation point for a telephone network
  • Network socket, a software interface to the network
  • Port (computer networking), a protocol interface to the network
  • References

    Network interface Wikipedia