Socket may refer to:

Mechanics

Socket wrench A socket wrench (or socket spanner) is a type of spanner (or wrench in North American English) that uses a closed ''socket'' format, rather than a typical open wrench/spanner to turn a fastener, typically in the form of a nut or bolt. The mos ...

, a type of wrench that uses separate, removable sockets to fit different sizes of nuts and bolts *

Socket head screw At a minimum, a screw drive is a set of shaped cavities and protrusions on the screw head that allows torque to be applied to it. Usually, it also involves a mating tool, such as a screwdriver, that is used to turn it. The following heads are ca ...

, a screw (or bolt) with a cylindrical head containing a socket into which the hexagonal ends of an Allen wrench will fit * Socket termination, a termination used at the ends of

wire rope Steel wire rope (right hand lang lay) Wire rope is several strands of metal wire twisted into a helix forming a composite ''rope'', in a pattern known as ''laid rope''. Larger diameter wire rope consists of multiple strands of such laid rope in a ...

* Socket, the receptacle into which a tapered tool is inserted * Socket, an opening in any fitting that matches the outside diameter of a pipe or

tube Tube or tubes may refer to: * ''Tube'' (2003 film), a 2003 Korean film * ''The Tube'' (TV series), a music related TV series by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom * "Tubes" (Peter Dale), performer on the Soccer AM television show * Tube (band), a ...

Biology

Eye socket In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents. In the adult human, the volume of the orbit is , of ...

, a region in the skull where the eyes are positioned *

Tooth socket Dental alveoli (singular ''alveolus'') are sockets in the jaws in which the roots of teeth are held in the alveolar process with the periodontal ligament. The lay term for dental alveoli is tooth sockets. A joint that connects the roots of the t ...

, a cavity containing a tooth, in those bones that bear teeth *

Dry socket Alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket, is inflammation of the alveolar bone (i.e., the alveolar process of the maxilla or mandible). Classically, this occurs as a postoperative complication of tooth extraction. Alveolar osteitis usually occ ...

, an opening as a result of the blood not clotting after a tooth is pulled *

Ball and socket joint The ball-and-socket joint (or spheroid joint) is a type of synovial joint in which the ball-shaped surface of one rounded bone fits into the cup-like depression of another bone. The distal bone is capable of motion around an indefinite number o ...

Computing

Network socket A network socket is a software structure within a network node of a computer network that serves as an endpoint for sending and receiving data across the network. The structure and properties of a socket are defined by an application programming ...

, an end-point in a communication across a network or the Internet *

Unix domain socket A Unix domain socket aka UDS or IPC socket ( inter-process communication socket) is a data communications endpoint for exchanging data between processes executing on the same host operating system. It is also referred to by its address family AF_U ...

, an end-point in local inter-process communication * socket(), a system call defined by the

Berkeley sockets Berkeley sockets is an application programming interface (API) for Internet sockets and Unix domain sockets, used for inter-process communication (IPC). It is commonly implemented as a library of linkable modules. It originated with the 4.2BSD Un ...

API *

CPU socket In computer hardware, a CPU socket or CPU slot contains one or more mechanical components providing mechanical and electrical connections between a microprocessor and a printed circuit board (PCB). This allows for placing and replacing the centr ...

, the connector on a computer's motherboard for the CPU

Electrical connectors

AC power plugs and sockets AC power plugs and sockets connect electric equipment to the alternating current (AC) mains electricity power supply in buildings and at other sites. Electrical plugs and sockets differ from one another in voltage and current rating, shape, si ...

, electrical devices used to connect to a power source onto which another device can be plugged or screwed in *

Antenna socket A TV aerial plug is a connector used to connect coaxial cables with each other and with terrestrial VHF/UHF roof antennas, antenna signal amplifiers, CATV distribution equipment, TV sets and FM / DAB-radio receivers. In Europe and Australia the ...

, a female antenna connector for a television cable *

Jack (connector) Components of an electrical circuit are electrically connected if an electric current can run between them through an electrical conductor. An electrical connector is an electromechanical device used to create an electrical connection between ...

, one of several types of electronic connectors *

Lightbulb socket A lightbulb socket, lightbulb holder, light socket, lamp socket or lamp holder is a device which mechanically supports and provides electrical connections for a compatible electric lamp base. Sockets allow lamps to be safely and conveniently re ...

, a connector into which a lamp light bulb screws

Other uses

Socket (telecommunications) Socket is a Missouri-based telecommunications provider, with its headquarters in Columbia, Missouri. Socket is a privately held company and offers local and long distance phone service, DSL and fiber-optic internet, and data technology to resident ...

, a US based Internet and phone service provider * ''Socket'' (video game), a video game created by Vic Tokai on the Sega Genesis * ''Socket'' (film), a 2007 film

Mechanics

Biology

Computing

Electrical connectors

Other uses

See also