Java Networking: Essential Concepts and Applications
Introduction
Networking in Java is a critical skill for developing modern, distributed applications. Whether you’re building a simple client-server application or a complex system with microservices, understanding Java’s networking capabilities is essential. This post covers the essential concepts of Java networking, including sockets, RESTful services, and the development of distributed applications.
Fundamentals of Java Networking
Java offers a comprehensive API for handling network communications, encapsulated mainly in the java.net package. This package provides the necessary tools for network communication, encompassing key areas such as sockets for low-level network communication and classes for higher-level network tasks like URL processing.
Understanding Sockets in Java
Sockets are the cornerstone of network programming in Java. They are endpoints for communication between two machines. Java supports two primary types of sockets:
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) Sockets
- These are reliable, connection-oriented sockets. They are used when you need a robust communication channel where data delivery is guaranteed.
