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Concept

Port Numbers and Program Identification

While IP addresses identify host devices on a network, a port number identifies a specific program or service running on that device. For example, web servers typically listen for inbound traffic on port 80 for standard HTTP or port 443 for encrypted HTTPS.

By combining an IP address with a port number, the network stack identifies exactly which application on which specific device is meant to receive any piece of incoming data.

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Updated 2026-09-04

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Prep Sessions

From Packets to Protocols: How Modern Networks Transmit Data @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.2 Addressing and Name Resolution - From Packets to Protocols: How Modern Networks Transmit Data @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Network Addressing and Identifiers - From Packets to Protocols: How Modern Networks Transmit Data @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor