Unix domain sockets are used as a means for Inter-Process communication within the same host/operating system.

The Unix domain socket uses the AF_UNIX as the Domain and can use SOCK_STREAM, SOCK_DGRAM or SOCK_SEQPACKET as the socket type.

The different socket types will be discussed in a different articles. The next set of articles deals with the Unix domain SOCK_STREAM and SOCK_DGRAM connection types and describe their operation.

Understanding the Unix Stream Socket connection