SocketType Enum

Namespace: System.Net.Sockets

Indicates the transmission type of a socket.

Syntax

public enum SocketType

Members

Member name	Description	Value
Unknown	The socket type is unknown.	0
Stream	A connection-based socket that provides reliable, two-way, connection-based, byte streams. A Stream socket uses TCP/IP or the Datagram Protocol (UDP).	1
Dgram	A connectionless socket that supports a datagram. Dgram is the only supported socket type for UDP.	2
Raw	A raw socket that provides access to the underlying transport protocol or to a protocol that has not been encapsulated by a protocol header.	3
Rdm	A reliable datagram socket.	4
Seqpacket	A connection-based sequential packet socket.	5

Remarks

The SocketType enumeration is used to specify the type of socket to be created.

• Stream sockets are connection-oriented and provide a reliable, byte-stream service. TCP is an example of a protocol that uses stream sockets.
• Dgram sockets are connectionless and support datagrams. UDP is an example of a protocol that uses datagram sockets.
• Raw sockets allow direct access to lower-level protocols.

The specific values for SocketType are defined by the underlying operating system's socket API.

See also

• Socket class
• ProtocolType enum
• System.Net.Sockets namespace