TAbstractSocket Class

TAbstractSocket is the abstract base class for all socket components.

Pascal

TAbstractSocket = class(TComponent);

C++

class TAbstractSocket : public TComponent;

File

ScktComp

Description

TAbstractSocket introduces properties and methods to enable an application to work with sockets. A socket encapsulates a set of communication protocols to allow the application to connect to other machines for reading or writing information. Sockets provide connections based on the TCP/IP protocol. They also allow connections that use the Xerox Network System (XNS), Digital's DECnet protocol, or Novell's IPX/SPX family. Sockets allow an application to form connections to other machines without being concerned with the details of the actual networking software.

The properties of TAbstractSocket describe the IP address of the socket and service it provides or seeks. Not all descendants of TAbstractSocket use all of these properties. For example, server sockets do not surface the IP address because it is read implicitly from the system running the application.

Do not create instances of TAbstractSocket. Use a descendant of TAbstractSocket to add the ability to communicate with other machines to an application. To create a socket that initiates the connection with another machine, use TClientSocket. To create a socket that responds to requests for connections from other machines, use TServerSocket.