port

1. networking A logical channel or channel endpoint in a

communications system. The Transmission Control Protocol

and User Datagram Protocol transport layer protocols used

on Ethernet use port numbers to distinguish between

(demultiplex) different logical channels on the same networkinterface on the same computer.

Each application program has a unique port number associated

with it, defined in /etc/services or the Network InformationService "services" database. Some protocols, e.g. telnet

and HTTP (which is actually a special form of telnet) have

default ports specified as above but can use other ports as

well.

Some port numbers are defined in RFC 1700, divided into

well-known ports and registered ports.

2. operating system, programming To translate or modify

software to run on a different platform, or the results of

doing so. The portability of the software determines how

easy it is to port.

3. language An imperative language descended from Zed

from Waterloo Microsystems (now Hayes Canada) ca. 1979.

["Port Language" document in the Waterloo Port Development

System].

(2002-06-19)