Unix sockets are bidirectional. This means that every side can perform both read and write operations. While, FIFOs are unidirectional: it has a writer peer and a reader peer. Unix sockets create less overhead and communication is faster, than by localhost IP sockets.

What is Unix socket connection?

A UNIX socket, AKA Unix Domain Socket, is an inter-process communication mechanism that allows bidirectional data exchange between processes running on the same machine. IP sockets (especially TCP/IP sockets) are a mechanism allowing communication between processes over the network.

How do I read a UNIX socket?

How to make a Server

1. Create a socket with the socket() system call.
2. Bind the socket to an address using the bind() system call. …
3. Listen for connections with the listen() system call.
4. Accept a connection with the accept() system call. …
5. Send and receive data using the read() and write() system calls.