In this lesson, we will learn how to perform network programming in C#. Network programming is the process of creating applications that can communicate over a network. C# provides a set of classes in the System.Net namespace that can be used to create network applications.
TCP Client
The TcpClient and TcpListener classes are used for creating TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) based network applications. TCP is a connection-oriented protocol that ensures that data is delivered reliably and in order.
Here's an example of how to use the TcpClient class to create a client that connects to a server:
In this example, we are connecting to a server running on the localhost on port 8080. Once the connection is established, we can use the NetworkStream class to send and receive data.
UDP Client
The UdpClient class is used for creating UDP (User Datagram Protocol) based network applications. UDP is a connectionless protocol that does not guarantee that data will be delivered reliably or in order.
Here’s an example of how to use the UdpClient class to create a client that sends a message to a server:
In this example, we are sending a message “Hello World” to a server running on the localhost on port 8080.
For creating a server, you can use the TcpListener and UdpClient classes.
TCP Listener
Here's an example of how to use the TcpListener class to create a server that listens for incoming connections:
In this example, we are creating a server that listens for incoming connections on port 8080. When a client connects, it accepts the connection and creates a new thread to handle the client.
In this lesson, we have learned the basics of network programming in C# and how to use the TcpClient, TcpListener and UdpClient classes to create network applications. Remember that when working with network programming it’s important to handle any potential exceptions that might occur, such as a lost connection, and use best practices such as using try-catch blocks and using the using statement to release resources properly.
To practice, try creating a new project and write a program that creates a simple chat application using TcpClient and TcpListener.
Happy coding!
