ELI5: In computer networking, what is a port? - eviltoast

I often see that network settings have a field for logical port. What is this field.referring to?

  • linearchaos@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Your IP address is like the main office number for your computer. The ports are like internal extension numbers.

    When you’re setting up a program and it’s asking you what logical port it should use, It’s asking you which extension it should be using. Just like if you were dealing with phone numbers and phone systems you have to give it a number that’s not already in use, and it probably makes sense to give it a number that is known for that type of service.