What are the differences between pipes and sockets?

What are the differences between pipes and sockets?

Pipes and sockets are both used for inter-process communication, but they have different characteristics. Pipes are typically used for communication between processes on the same machine, while sockets can be used for communication over a network.

Can you explain how pipes work?

Sure! Pipes allow one process to send data to another process. They create a unidirectional channel, meaning data flows in one direction. For example, you can use a pipe to connect the output of one command to the input of another in a shell.

What about sockets? How do they differ?

Sockets provide a more flexible communication method. They can be used for both local and remote communication, allowing processes on different machines to communicate over a network. Sockets can be either connection-oriented (TCP) or connectionless (UDP).

Which one is better for real-time applications?

For real-time applications, sockets are generally better because they can handle network communication and provide options for both reliable and fast data transmission.