Port

What is a port?

A port is a logical identifier for a specific process or service on a computer. Ports help to distribute traffic from an application on one computer network to an application on another computer network or on the same network.

An analogy: Port = apartment number

A port is like an apartment number within a building. The IP address is apartment’s street address whilst the port number is the apartment door number.

An IP address helps network packets reach the correct apartment building (network router) and then a port help direct them to the correct apartment door (process within the computer).