net Node.js v0.10.40 Manual & Documentation

# net#

    Stability: 3 - Stable

The `net` module provides you with an asynchronous network wrapper. It contains methods for creating both servers and clients (called streams). You can include this module with `require('net');`

## net.createServer([options], [connectionListener])#

Creates a new TCP server. The `connectionListener` argument is automatically set as a listener for the 'connection' event.

`options` is an object with the following defaults:

    { allowHalfOpen: false
    }

If `allowHalfOpen` is `true`, then the socket won't automatically send a FIN packet when the other end of the socket sends a FIN packet. The socket becomes non-readable, but still writable. You should call the `end()` method explicitly. See 'end' event for more information.

Here is an example of an echo server which listens for connections on port 8124:

    var net = require('net');
    var server = net.createServer(function(c) { //'connection' listener
      console.log('client connected');
      c.on('end', function() {
        console.log('client disconnected');
      });
      c.write('hello\r\n');
      c.pipe(c);
    });
    server.listen(8124, function() { //'listening' listener
      console.log('server bound');
    });

Test this by using `telnet`:

    telnet localhost 8124

To listen on the socket `/tmp/echo.sock` the third line from the last would just be changed to

    server.listen('/tmp/echo.sock', function() { //'listening' listener

Use `nc` to connect to a UNIX domain socket server:

    nc -U /tmp/echo.sock

## net.connect(options, [connectionListener])#

## net.createConnection(options, [connectionListener])#

A factory method, which returns a new 'net.Socket' and connects to the supplied address and port.

When the socket is established, the 'connect' event will be emitted.

Has the same events as 'net.Socket'.

For TCP sockets, `options` argument should be an object which specifies:

- `port`: Port the client should connect to (Required).

- `host`: Host the client should connect to. Defaults to `'localhost'`.

- `localAddress`: Local interface to bind to for network connections.

For UNIX domain sockets, `options` argument should be an object which specifies:

- `path`: Path the client should connect to (Required).

Common options are:

- `allowHalfOpen`: if `true`, the socket won't automatically send a FIN packet when the other end of the socket sends a FIN packet. Defaults to `false`. See 'end' event for more information.

The `connectListener` parameter will be added as an listener for the 'connect' event.

Here is an example of a client of echo server as described previously:

    var net = require('net');
    var client = net.connect({port: 8124},
        function() { //'connect' listener
      console.log('connected to server!');
      client.write('world!\r\n');
    });
    client.on('data', function(data) {
      console.log(data.toString());
      client.end();
    });
    client.on('end', function() {
      console.log('disconnected from server');
    });

To connect on the socket `/tmp/echo.sock` the second line would just be changed to

    var client = net.connect({path: '/tmp/echo.sock'});

## net.connect(port, [host], [connectListener])#

## net.createConnection(port, [host], [connectListener])#

Creates a TCP connection to `port` on `host`. If `host` is omitted, `'localhost'` will be assumed. The `connectListener` parameter will be added as an listener for the 'connect' event.

Is a factory method which returns a new 'net.Socket'.

## net.connect(path, [connectListener])#

## net.createConnection(path, [connectListener])#

Creates unix socket connection to `path`. The `connectListener` parameter will be added as an listener for the 'connect' event.

A factory method which returns a new 'net.Socket'.

## Class: net.Server#

This class is used to create a TCP or UNIX server.

### server.listen(port, [host], [backlog], [callback])#

Begin accepting connections on the specified `port` and `host`. If the `host` is omitted, the server will accept connections directed to any IPv4 address (`INADDR_ANY`). A port value of zero will assign a random port.

Backlog is the maximum length of the queue of pending connections. The actual length will be determined by your OS through sysctl settings such as `tcp_max_syn_backlog` and `somaxconn` on linux. The default value of this parameter is 511 (not 512).

This function is asynchronous. When the server has been bound, 'listening' event will be emitted. The last parameter `callback` will be added as an listener for the 'listening' event.

One issue some users run into is getting `EADDRINUSE` errors. This means that another server is already running on the requested port. One way of handling this would be to wait a second and then try again. This can be done with

    server.on('error', function (e) {
      if (e.code == 'EADDRINUSE') {
        console.log('Address in use, retrying...');
        setTimeout(function () {
          server.close();
          server.listen(PORT, HOST);
        }, 1000);
      }
    });

(Note: All sockets in Node set `SO_REUSEADDR` already)

### server.listen(path, [callback])#

Start a UNIX socket server listening for connections on the given `path`.

This function is asynchronous. When the server has been bound, 'listening' event will be emitted. The last parameter `callback` will be added as an listener for the 'listening' event.

### server.listen(handle, [callback])#

- `handle` Object
- `callback` Function

The `handle` object can be set to either a server or socket (anything with an underlying `_handle` member), or a `{fd: <n>}` object.

This will cause the server to accept connections on the specified handle, but it is presumed that the file descriptor or handle has already been bound to a port or domain socket.

Listening on a file descriptor is not supported on Windows.

This function is asynchronous. When the server has been bound, 'listening' event will be emitted. the last parameter `callback` will be added as an listener for the 'listening' event.

### server.close([callback])#

Stops the server from accepting new connections and keeps existing connections. This function is asynchronous, the server is finally closed when all connections are ended and the server emits a `'close'` event. Optionally, you can pass a callback to listen for the `'close'` event.

### server.address()#

Returns the bound address, the address family name and port of the server as reported by the operating system. Useful to find which port was assigned when giving getting an OS-assigned address. Returns an object with three properties, e.g. `{ port: 12346, family: 'IPv4', address: '127.0.0.1' }`

Example:

    var server = net.createServer(function (socket) {
      socket.end("goodbye\n");
    });

    // grab a random port.
    server.listen(function() {
      address = server.address();
      console.log("opened server on %j", address);
    });

Don't call `server.address()` until the `'listening'` event has been emitted.

### server.unref()#

Calling `unref` on a server will allow the program to exit if this is the only active server in the event system. If the server is already `unref`d calling `unref` again will have no effect.

### server.ref()#

Opposite of `unref`, calling `ref` on a previously `unref`d server will not let the program exit if it's the only server left (the default behavior). If the server is `ref`d calling `ref` again will have no effect.

### server.maxConnections#

Set this property to reject connections when the server's connection count gets high.

It is not recommended to use this option once a socket has been sent to a child with `child_process.fork()`.

### server.connections#

This function is deprecated; please use server.getConnections() instead. The number of concurrent connections on the server.

This becomes `null` when sending a socket to a child with `child_process.fork()`. To poll forks and get current number of active connections use asynchronous `server.getConnections` instead.

### server.getConnections(callback)#

Asynchronously get the number of concurrent connections on the server. Works when sockets were sent to forks.

Callback should take two arguments `err` and `count`.

`net.Server` is an EventEmitter with the following events:

### Event: 'listening'#

Emitted when the server has been bound after calling `server.listen`.

### Event: 'connection'#

- Socket object The connection object

Emitted when a new connection is made. `socket` is an instance of `net.Socket`.

### Event: 'close'#

Emitted when the server closes. Note that if connections exist, this event is not emitted until all connections are ended.

### Event: 'error'#

- Error Object

Emitted when an error occurs. The `'close'` event will be called directly following this event. See example in discussion of `server.listen`.

## Class: net.Socket#

This object is an abstraction of a TCP or UNIX socket. `net.Socket` instances implement a duplex Stream interface. They can be created by the user and used as a client (with `connect()`) or they can be created by Node and passed to the user through the `'connection'` event of a server.

### new net.Socket([options])#

Construct a new socket object.

`options` is an object with the following defaults:

    { fd: null
      allowHalfOpen: false,
      readable: false,
      writable: false
    }

`fd` allows you to specify the existing file descriptor of socket. Set `readable` and/or `writable` to `true` to allow reads and/or writes on this socket (NOTE: Works only when `fd` is passed). About `allowHalfOpen`, refer to `createServer()` and `'end'` event.

### socket.connect(port, [host], [connectListener])#

### socket.connect(path, [connectListener])#

Opens the connection for a given socket. If `port` and `host` are given, then the socket will be opened as a TCP socket, if `host` is omitted, `localhost` will be assumed. If a `path` is given, the socket will be opened as a unix socket to that path.

Normally this method is not needed, as `net.createConnection` opens the socket. Use this only if you are implementing a custom Socket.

This function is asynchronous. When the 'connect' event is emitted the socket is established. If there is a problem connecting, the `'connect'` event will not be emitted, the `'error'` event will be emitted with the exception.

The `connectListener` parameter will be added as an listener for the 'connect' event.

### socket.bufferSize#

`net.Socket` has the property that `socket.write()` always works. This is to help users get up and running quickly. The computer cannot always keep up with the amount of data that is written to a socket - the network connection simply might be too slow. Node will internally queue up the data written to a socket and send it out over the wire when it is possible. (Internally it is polling on the socket's file descriptor for being writable).

The consequence of this internal buffering is that memory may grow. This property shows the number of characters currently buffered to be written. (Number of characters is approximately equal to the number of bytes to be written, but the buffer may contain strings, and the strings are lazily encoded, so the exact number of bytes is not known.)

Users who experience large or growing `bufferSize` should attempt to "throttle" the data flows in their program with `pause()` and `resume()`.

### socket.setEncoding([encoding])#

Set the encoding for the socket as a Readable Stream. See stream.setEncoding() for more information.

### socket.write(data, [encoding], [callback])#

Sends data on the socket. The second parameter specifies the encoding in the case of a string--it defaults to UTF8 encoding.

Returns `true` if the entire data was flushed successfully to the kernel buffer. Returns `false` if all or part of the data was queued in user memory. `'drain'` will be emitted when the buffer is again free.

The optional `callback` parameter will be executed when the data is finally written out - this may not be immediately.

### socket.end([data], [encoding])#

Half-closes the socket. i.e., it sends a FIN packet. It is possible the server will still send some data.

If `data` is specified, it is equivalent to calling `socket.write(data, encoding)` followed by `socket.end()`.

### socket.destroy()#

Ensures that no more I/O activity happens on this socket. Only necessary in case of errors (parse error or so).

### socket.pause()#

Pauses the reading of data. That is, `'data'` events will not be emitted. Useful to throttle back an upload.

### socket.resume()#

Resumes reading after a call to `pause()`.

### socket.setTimeout(timeout, [callback])#

Sets the socket to timeout after `timeout` milliseconds of inactivity on the socket. By default `net.Socket` do not have a timeout.

When an idle timeout is triggered the socket will receive a `'timeout'` event but the connection will not be severed. The user must manually `end()` or `destroy()` the socket.

If `timeout` is 0, then the existing idle timeout is disabled.

The optional `callback` parameter will be added as a one time listener for the `'timeout'` event.

### socket.setNoDelay([noDelay])#

Disables the Nagle algorithm. By default TCP connections use the Nagle algorithm, they buffer data before sending it off. Setting `true` for `noDelay` will immediately fire off data each time `socket.write()` is called. `noDelay` defaults to `true`.

### socket.setKeepAlive([enable], [initialDelay])#

Enable/disable keep-alive functionality, and optionally set the initial delay before the first keepalive probe is sent on an idle socket. `enable` defaults to `false`.

Set `initialDelay` (in milliseconds) to set the delay between the last data packet received and the first keepalive probe. Setting 0 for initialDelay will leave the value unchanged from the default (or previous) setting. Defaults to `0`.

### socket.address()#

Returns the bound address, the address family name and port of the socket as reported by the operating system. Returns an object with three properties, e.g. `{ port: 12346, family: 'IPv4', address: '127.0.0.1' }`

### socket.unref()#

Calling `unref` on a socket will allow the program to exit if this is the only active socket in the event system. If the socket is already `unref`d calling `unref` again will have no effect.

### socket.ref()#

Opposite of `unref`, calling `ref` on a previously `unref`d socket will not let the program exit if it's the only socket left (the default behavior). If the socket is `ref`d calling `ref` again will have no effect.

### socket.remoteAddress#

The string representation of the remote IP address. For example, `'74.125.127.100'` or `'2001:4860:a005::68'`.

### socket.remotePort#

The numeric representation of the remote port. For example, `80` or `21`.

### socket.localAddress#

The string representation of the local IP address the remote client is connecting on. For example, if you are listening on `'0.0.0.0'` and the client connects on `'192.168.1.1'`, the value would be `'192.168.1.1'`.

### socket.localPort#

The numeric representation of the local port. For example, `80` or `21`.

### socket.bytesRead#

The amount of received bytes.

### socket.bytesWritten#

The amount of bytes sent.

`net.Socket` instances are EventEmitter with the following events:

### Event: 'connect'#

Emitted when a socket connection is successfully established. See `connect()`.

### Event: 'data'#

- Buffer object

Emitted when data is received. The argument `data` will be a `Buffer` or `String`. Encoding of data is set by `socket.setEncoding()`. (See the Readable Stream section for more information.)

Note that the data will be lost if there is no listener when a `Socket` emits a `'data'` event.

### Event: 'end'#

Emitted when the other end of the socket sends a FIN packet.

By default (`allowHalfOpen == false`) the socket will destroy its file descriptor once it has written out its pending write queue. However, by setting `allowHalfOpen == true` the socket will not automatically `end()` its side allowing the user to write arbitrary amounts of data, with the caveat that the user is required to `end()` their side now.

### Event: 'timeout'#

Emitted if the socket times out from inactivity. This is only to notify that the socket has been idle. The user must manually close the connection.

See also: `socket.setTimeout()`

### Event: 'drain'#

Emitted when the write buffer becomes empty. Can be used to throttle uploads.

See also: the return values of `socket.write()`

### Event: 'error'#

- Error object

Emitted when an error occurs. The `'close'` event will be called directly following this event.

### Event: 'close'#

- `had_error` Boolean true if the socket had a transmission error

Emitted once the socket is fully closed. The argument `had_error` is a boolean which says if the socket was closed due to a transmission error.

## net.isIP(input)#

Tests if input is an IP address. Returns 0 for invalid strings, returns 4 for IP version 4 addresses, and returns 6 for IP version 6 addresses.

## net.isIPv4(input)#

Returns true if input is a version 4 IP address, otherwise returns false.

## net.isIPv6(input)#

Returns true if input is a version 6 IP address, otherwise returns false.