Final answer:
The shutdown() function disables further operations on a socket and allows for a graceful termination, while the close() function immediately terminates the socket connection and releases all associated resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between the shutdown() and close() function concerns how they terminate a socket connection in network programming. The shutdown() function disables further send and/or receive operations on a socket, but does not immediately release the network resources associated with the socket. It allows for a graceful shutdown of the connection by specifying how the connection should be terminated, such as disallowing further data transmission or reception. Shutdown can be used to terminate one side of a duplex connection, while still allowing data to be sent or received on the other side.
On the other hand, the close() function is more abrupt, immediately terminating the socket connection and releasing all associated resources. Once a socket is closed, it cannot send or receive data and must be recreated if the connection needs to be re-established. Close typically occurs after a shutdown but can be called directly if a graceful shutdown isn't necessary.