What are endpoints that are similar to network sockets referred to in UNIX systems?

In UNIX systems, endpoints that are similar to network sockets are referred to as Unix sockets. Unix sockets provide inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms that allow for data exchange between processes running on the same host. These sockets can be used to facilitate client-server architectures in local environments, making them a perfect choice for efficient communication without the overhead of network protocols.

Unix sockets are characterized by their ability to use filesystem pathnames as addresses, which is different from traditional network sockets that use IP address and port number combinations. This allows for secure and fast communication between processes that do not need to establish a full network stack.

Named pipes and kernel sockets serve different functions in IPC or kernel-level communication. Named pipes are more limited in scope, primarily allowing data to be passed between related processes. TCP ports are relevant in the context of network communications and are used for transmitting data over the Internet or intranets, not specifically tied to the operating environment of UNIX like Unix sockets are.