this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2023
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Explain Like I'm Five

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ELI5: In computer networking, what is a port? (self.explainlikeimfive)
submitted 1 year ago by BackOnMyBS to c/explainlikeimfive
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I often see that network settings have a field for logical port. What is this field.referring to?

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[–] takeda 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you would compare a server to a building, with its own street address, then port would be an apartment number for every application (tenant) living there.

Ports are what allowing you to run multiple applications and all can communicate over the internet. Without ports you would need to have a dedicated computer for every application.