Final answer:
In networking, a socket is a combination of an IP address and a port number, which together create an endpoint for communication between devices on a network.
Step-by-step explanation:
In networking, a socket refers to a combination of IP address and port number. An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to each device connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication, while a port number serves as a communication endpoint for a specific process or application.
Sockets facilitate the process of network communication by allowing different computers to establish a channel for data transfer. They are essential for creating a reliable network connection where data can be sent and received using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP), depending on the level of reliability and speed required by the application.