Port

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While IP Addresses are used to identify specific devices on a network, ports are used to identify specific services offered on those devices. This allows each device to provide a number of different services to other devices on the network. As such, a single machine can perform multiple tasks without requiring individual addresses for each of them.

The simplest way to visualize a port is as an extension on a telephone system. The main phone number (IP Address) addresses a larger organization, whereas the extensions (ports) allow callers to contact a specific person (service) within that organization.