What is an internet port

What is an internet port ? What are they ?

Everyone actively uses their computer to transfer and search for information, write emails, and chat in messengers. But few people know that these processes are made possible by Internet ports.

In this article we will tell you what an internet port is, why it is needed and what internet ports are.

What is an internet port?

This port is a number written in the transport protocol that is typically less than 65535. It is needed to identify the application that should process the information being transmitted.

This definition of “port” is a difficult one to understand because a network port is a virtual port, something that we can't see or touch like physical ports like USB and many others. But in order to have a good understanding of how your computer communicates and interacts with servers, you need to understand this topic.

It is common knowledge that all devices have their own IP address. Servers also have an IP. As you know, a single server can host not just one site, but hundreds. For example, virtual servers can be rented out to several clients at once. In this case, their projects have one IP-address. So, how to get to the desired site? In this case, the Internet port helps, which together with the IP address will help you find a particular resource. To see the port number, you can pay attention to the URL, in which you can find several numbers after the colon.

Why do you need an internet port?

Helping you find the right resource – this is far from the only function that an internet port performs, because it will also help:

• Send and receive an email;
• Safe to use the computer from a distance;
• Upload and modify the data on the website;
• Download data from any resources.

Each port has a specific type of function, so you can't say that all ports are the same or different from each other. Typically, there are 4 main types of Internet ports that are used to ensure the efficient operation of your equipment, which we'll discuss next.

Any port has a specific function, so you can't say that all ports are the same or different.

What are the different types of internet ports?

There are hundreds of varieties of Internet ports, but there are four main ones:

• HTTP protocol: this port is given the number 80. It is this variety that we use almost every day, because thanks to it, we can browse any site and even download files. This technology involves the formation of a user request and further sending it to the server, where it will be processed and then sent to the client in the form of a response.
• FTP protocol: this type of protocol is numbered 21, thanks to which it is possible to transfer files from a computer to a server, and then modify and edit them. This protocol was invented back in the 70s of the last century in order to give people the opportunity to quickly and safely transfer information. The peculiarity of FTP is that sometimes for the transfer of information you need authorisation through a special login or password, but many resources provide the ability to upload and download files without authorisation. It should not be thought that FTP and HTTP are practically no different from each other, because FTP is designed for information transfer and data management, as well as for tracking all interactions with files. HTTP, in turn, is designed only for various resources on the World Wide Web.
• SMTP protocol: this port number is 465 when using SSL and 587 when using TLS encryption. Thanks to it, we send emails without fearing for the security of our data. Also, this technology helps to identify spam. The process of using the SMTP port to send emails sends your message to a server that will determine if your message is spam or not and then find the recipient's server that depends on the email address and redirect it there. If the connection fails, the programme will probably try several more times, and if these attempts are also unsuccessful, you will receive a message that your email has not been sent. To receive mail, use IMAP (usually port 993) or POP3 (port 110,995)
• SSH protocol: this port is assigned port number 22. It helps to provide remote access to the server to upload and change information. The ability to change something is given only to those users who are authenticated, that is, the user enters all the data that gives access, and only then he is given the opportunity to change something, transfer information and download something important. Thanks to SSH port you will remotely manage your server even through an unprotected network, because this technology provides the necessary level of security through careful encryption of data.
  If you plan to become the owner of the server, you should carefully study the issue of existing Internet ports, because without them the equipment will not be able to work correctly, transmit and store information, as well as process user requests.

Conclusion

So internet ports help connect a user to a specific site, email a specific person, provide the ability to download information, and remotely manage the server to make changes. A specific port is responsible for each task and has a number assigned to it.

If you are thinking about the need to purchase such equipment for your project, it is worth understanding that it is important not only to understand the types of services or components required, but also the ports that will help ensure that your equipment functions correctly.

Our server rental offers can be found in the «Choose server» section. If you need help with your choice, you can contact our support team, who will answer your question at any time of the day. Rest assured, you will find the right server for you!

We look forward to having you as one of our customers!