What is the difference between AF_INET and PF_INET constants?
- by Denilson Sá
Looking at examples about socket programming, we can see that some people use AF_INET while others use PF_INET. In addition, sometimes both of them are used at the same example. The question is: Is there any difference between them? Which one should we use?
If you can answer that, another question would be... Why there are these two similar (but equal) constants?
What I've discovered, so far:
The socket manpage
In (Unix) socket programming, we have the socket() function that receives the following parameters:
int socket(int domain, int type, int protocol);
The manpage says:
The domain argument specifies a communication domain; this selects the
protocol family which will be used for communication. These families
are defined in <sys/socket.h>.
And the manpage cites AF_INET as well as some other AF_ constants for the domain parameter. Also, at the NOTES section of the same manpage, we can read:
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.
The C headers
The sys/socket.h does not actually define those constants, but instead includes bits/socket.h. This file defines around 38 AF_ constants and 38 PF_ constants like this:
#define PF_INET 2 /* IP protocol family. */
#define AF_INET PF_INET
Python
The Python socket module is very similar to the C API. However, there are many AF_ constants but only one PF_ constant (PF_PACKET). Thus, in Python we have no choice but use AF_INET.
I think this decision to include only the AF_ constants follows one of the guiding principles: "There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it." (The Zen of Python)
