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POWhat is the difference between AF_INET and PF_INET constants?
 

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  1. POWhat is the difference between AF_INET and PF_INET constants?
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    <p>Looking at examples about socket programming, we can see that some people use <code>AF_INET</code> while others use <code>PF_INET</code>. In addition, sometimes <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2384562/double-udp-socket-binding-in-linux/2384605#2384605">both of them are used at the same example</a>. The question is: Is there any difference between them? Which one should we use?</p> <p>If you can answer that, another question would be... Why there are these two similar (but equal) constants?</p> <hr> <h2>What I've discovered, so far:</h2> <h3>The <code>socket</code> manpage</h3> <p>In (Unix) socket programming, we have the <code>socket()</code> function that receives the following parameters:</p> <pre><code>int socket(int domain, int type, int protocol); </code></pre> <p>The manpage says:</p> <blockquote> <p>The <code>domain</code> argument specifies a communication domain; this selects the protocol family which will be used for communication. These families are defined in &lt;sys/socket.h&gt;.</p> </blockquote> <p>And the manpage cites <code>AF_INET</code> as well as some other <code>AF_</code> constants for the <code>domain</code> parameter. Also, at the <code>NOTES</code> section of the same manpage, we can read:</p> <blockquote> <p>The manifest constants used under 4.x BSD for protocol families are PF_UNIX, PF_INET, etc., while AF_UNIX etc. are used for address families. However, already the BSD man page promises: "The protocol family generally is the same as the address family", and subsequent standards use AF_* everywhere.</p> </blockquote> <h3>The C headers</h3> <p>The <code>sys/socket.h</code> does not actually define those constants, but instead includes <code>bits/socket.h</code>. This file defines around 38 <code>AF_</code> constants and 38 <code>PF_</code> constants like this:</p> <pre><code>#define PF_INET 2 /* IP protocol family. */ #define AF_INET PF_INET </code></pre> <h3>Python</h3> <p>The <a href="http://docs.python.org/library/socket.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Python socket module</a> is very similar to the C API. However, there are many <code>AF_</code> constants but only one <code>PF_</code> constant (PF_PACKET). Thus, in Python we have no choice but use <code>AF_INET</code>.</p> <p>I think this decision to include only the <code>AF_</code> constants follows one of the guiding principles: "There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it." <a href="http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0020/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(The Zen of Python)</a></p> <h3>Other info</h3> <p><a href="http://www.developerweb.net/forum/showpost.php?p=17391&amp;postcount=5" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This forum post</a> links to <a href="http://www.kohala.com/start/lanciani.96apr10.txt" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this old message</a>, which contains some historical information.</p>
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