From 982f3227a52304124a93ffa872fbf63ec647513a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: James M Snell Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2015 22:25:13 -0800 Subject: [PATCH] doc: improvements to dgram.markdown copy General improvements to dgram.markdown copy PR-URL: https://github.com/nodejs/node/pull/4437 Reviewed-By: Minwoo Jung Reviewed-By: Stephan Belanger --- doc/api/dgram.markdown | 325 +++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------- 1 file changed, 196 insertions(+), 129 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/api/dgram.markdown b/doc/api/dgram.markdown index 996379a042..78bf3c2210 100644 --- a/doc/api/dgram.markdown +++ b/doc/api/dgram.markdown @@ -4,50 +4,62 @@ -Datagram sockets are available through `require('dgram')`. +The `dgram` module provides an implementation of UDP Datagram sockets. -Important note: the behavior of [`dgram.Socket#bind()`][] has changed in v0.10 -and is always asynchronous now. If you have code that looks like this: + const dgram = require('dgram'); + const server = dgram.createSocket('udp4'); - const s = dgram.createSocket('udp4'); - s.bind(1234); - s.addMembership('224.0.0.114'); + server.on('error', (err) => { + console.log(`server error:\n${err.stack}`); + server.close(); + }); -You have to change it to this: + server.on('message', (msg, rinfo) => { + console.log(`server got: ${msg} from ${rinfo.address}:${rinfo.port}`); + }); - const s = dgram.createSocket('udp4'); - s.bind(1234, () => { - s.addMembership('224.0.0.114'); + server.on('listening', () => { + var address = server.address(); + console.log(`server listening ${address.address}:${address.port}`); }); + server.bind(41234); + // server listening 0.0.0.0:41234 + ## Class: dgram.Socket -The dgram Socket class encapsulates the datagram functionality. It -should be created via [`dgram.createSocket(...)`][] +The `dgram.Socket` object is an [`EventEmitter`][] that encapsulates the +datagram functionality. + +New instances of `dgram.Socket` are created using [`dgram.createSocket()`][]. +The `new` keyword is not to be used to create `dgram.Socket` instances. ### Event: 'close' -Emitted after a socket is closed with [`close()`][]. No new `'message'` events will be emitted -on this socket. +The `'close'` event is emitted after a socket is closed with [`close()`][]. +Once triggered, no new `'message'` events will be emitted on this socket. ### Event: 'error' * `exception` Error object -Emitted when an error occurs. +The `'error'` event is emitted whenever any error occurs. The event handler +function is passed a single Error object. ### Event: 'listening' -Emitted when a socket starts listening for datagrams. This happens as soon as UDP sockets -are created. +The `'listening'` event is emitted whenever a socket begins listening for +datagram messages. This occurs as soon as UDP sockets are created. ### Event: 'message' * `msg` Buffer object. The message * `rinfo` Object. Remote address information -Emitted when a new datagram is available on a socket. `msg` is a `Buffer` and -`rinfo` is an object with the sender's address information: +The `'message'` event is emitted when a new datagram is available on a socket. +The event handler function is passed two arguments: `msg` and `rinfo`. The +`msg` argument is a [`Buffer`][] and `rinfo` is an object with the sender's +address information provided by the `address`, `family` and `port` properties: socket.on('message', (msg, rinfo) => { console.log('Received %d bytes from %s:%d\n', @@ -59,41 +71,44 @@ Emitted when a new datagram is available on a socket. `msg` is a `Buffer` and * `multicastAddress` String * `multicastInterface` String, Optional -Tells the kernel to join a multicast group with `IP_ADD_MEMBERSHIP` socket option. - -If `multicastInterface` is not specified, the OS will try to add membership to all valid -interfaces. +Tells the kernel to join a multicast group at the given `multicastAddress` +using the `IP_ADD_MEMBERSHIP` socket option. If the `multicastInterface` +argument is not specified, the operating system will try to add membership to +all valid networking interfaces. ### socket.address() -Returns an object containing the address information for a socket. For UDP sockets, -this object will contain `address` , `family` and `port`. +Returns an object containing the address information for a socket. +For UDP sockets, this object will contain `address`, `family` and `port` +properties. -### socket.bind([port][, address][, callback]) +### [socket.bind([port][, address][, callback])] * `port` Integer, Optional * `address` String, Optional -* `callback` Function with no parameters, Optional. Callback when - binding is done. - -For UDP sockets, listen for datagrams on a named `port` and optional -`address`. If `port` is not specified, the OS will try to bind to a random -port. If `address` is not specified, the OS will try to listen on -all addresses. After binding is done, a `'listening'` event is emitted -and the `callback`(if specified) is called. Specifying both a -`'listening'` event listener and `callback` is not harmful but not very +* `callback` Function with no parameters, Optional. Called when + binding is complete. + +For UDP sockets, causes the `dgram.Socket` to listen for datagram messages on a +named `port` and optional `address`. If `port` is not specified, the operating +system will attempt to bind to a random port. If `address` is not specified, +the operating system will attempt to listen on all addresses. Once binding is +complete, a `'listening'` event is emitted and the optional `callback` function +is called. + +Note that specifying both a `'listening'` event listener and passing a +`callback` to the `socket.bind()` method is not harmful but not very useful. A bound datagram socket keeps the Node.js process running to receive -datagrams. +datagram messages. If binding fails, an `'error'` event is generated. In rare case (e.g. -binding a closed socket), an [`Error`][] may be thrown by this method. +attempting to bind with a closed socket), an [`Error`][] may be thrown. Example of a UDP server listening on port 41234: const dgram = require('dgram'); - const server = dgram.createSocket('udp4'); server.on('error', (err) => { @@ -121,15 +136,22 @@ Example of a UDP server listening on port 41234: * `exclusive` {Boolean} - Optional. * `callback` {Function} - Optional. -The `port` and `address` properties of `options`, as well as the optional -callback function, behave as they do on a call to -[`socket.bind(port, \[address\], \[callback\])`][]. +For UDP sockets, causes the `dgram.Socket` to listen for datagram messages on a +named `port` and optional `address` that are passed as properties of an +`options` object passed as the first argument. If `port` is not specified, the +operating system will attempt to bind to a random port. If `address` is not +specified, the operating system will attempt to listen on all addresses. Once +binding is complete, a `'listening'` event is emitted and the optional +`callback` function is called. + +The `options` object may contain an additional `exclusive` property that is +use when using `dgram.Socket` objects with the [`cluster`] module. When +`exclusive` is set to `false` (the default), cluster workers will use the same +underlying socket handle allowing connection handling duties to be shared. +When `exclusive` is `true`, however, the handle is not shared and attempted +port sharing results in an error. -If `exclusive` is `false` (default), then cluster workers will use the same -underlying handle, allowing connection handling duties to be shared. When -`exclusive` is `true`, the handle is not shared, and attempted port sharing -results in an error. An example which listens on an exclusive port is -shown below. +An example socket listening on an exclusive port is shown below. socket.bind({ address: 'localhost', @@ -147,13 +169,13 @@ provided, it is added as a listener for the [`'close'`][] event. * `multicastAddress` String * `multicastInterface` String, Optional -Opposite of [`addMembership()`][] - tells the kernel to leave a multicast group with -`IP_DROP_MEMBERSHIP` socket option. This is automatically called by the kernel -when the socket is closed or process terminates, so most apps will never need to call -this. +Instructs the kernel to leave a multicast group at `multicastAddress` using the +`IP_DROP_MEMBERSHIP` socket option. This method is automatically called by the +kernel when the socket is closed or the process terminates, so most apps will +never have reason to call this. -If `multicastInterface` is not specified, the OS will try to drop membership to all valid -interfaces. +If `multicastInterface` is not specified, the operating system will attempt to +drop membership on all valid interfaces. ### socket.send(buf, offset, length, port, address[, callback]) @@ -164,26 +186,35 @@ interfaces. * `address` String. Destination hostname or IP address. * `callback` Function. Called when the message has been sent. Optional. -For UDP sockets, the destination port and address must be specified. A string -may be supplied for the `address` parameter, and it will be resolved with DNS. +Broadcasts a datagram on the socket. The destination `port` and `address` must +be specified. -If the address is omitted or is an empty string, `'0.0.0.0'` or `'::0'` is used -instead. Depending on the network configuration, those defaults may or may not -work; it's best to be explicit about the destination address. +The `buf` argument is a [`Buffer`] object containing the message. The `offset` +and `length` specify the offset within the `Buffer` where the message begins +and the number of bytes in the message, respectively. With messages that +contain multi-byte characters, `offset` and `length` will be calculated with +respect to [byte length][] and not the character position. -If the socket has not been previously bound with a call to `bind`, it gets -assigned a random port number and is bound to the "all interfaces" address +The `address` argument is a string. If the value of `address` is a host name, +DNS will be used to resolve the address of the host. If the `address` is not +specified or is an empty string, `'0.0.0.0'` or `'::0'` will be used instead. +It is possible, depending on the network configuration, that these defaults +may not work; accordingly, it is best to be explicit about the destination +address. + +If the socket has not been previously bound with a call to `bind`, the socket +is assigned a random port number and is bound to the "all interfaces" address (`'0.0.0.0'` for `udp4` sockets, `'::0'` for `udp6` sockets.) -An optional callback may be specified to detect DNS errors or for determining -when it's safe to reuse the `buf` object. Note that DNS lookups delay the time -to send for at least one tick. The only way to know for sure that the datagram -has been sent is by using a callback. If an error occurs and a callback is -given, the error will be the first argument to the callback. If a callback is -not given, the error is emitted as an `'error'` event on the `socket` object. +An optional `callback` function may be specified to as a way of reporting +DNS errors or for determining when it is safe to reuse the `buf` object. +Note that DNS lookups delay the time to send for at least one tick of the +Node.js event loop. -With consideration for multi-byte characters, `offset` and `length` will -be calculated with respect to [byte length][] and not the character position. +The only way to know for sure that the datagram has been sent is by using a +`callback`. If an error occurs and a `callback` is given, the error will be +passed as the first argument to the `callback`. If a `callback` is not given, +the error is emitted as an `'error'` event on the `socket` object. Example of sending a UDP packet to a random port on `localhost`; @@ -196,103 +227,137 @@ Example of sending a UDP packet to a random port on `localhost`; **A Note about UDP datagram size** -The maximum size of an `IPv4/v6` datagram depends on the `MTU` (_Maximum Transmission Unit_) -and on the `Payload Length` field size. +The maximum size of an `IPv4/v6` datagram depends on the `MTU` +(_Maximum Transmission Unit_) and on the `Payload Length` field size. -- The `Payload Length` field is `16 bits` wide, which means that a normal payload - cannot be larger than 64K octets including internet header and data +- The `Payload Length` field is `16 bits` wide, which means that a normal + payload exceed 64K octets _including_ the internet header and data (65,507 bytes = 65,535 − 8 bytes UDP header − 20 bytes IP header); - this is generally true for loopback interfaces, but such long datagrams - are impractical for most hosts and networks. + this is generally true for loopback interfaces, but such long datagram + messages are impractical for most hosts and networks. -- The `MTU` is the largest size a given link layer technology can support for datagrams. - For any link, `IPv4` mandates a minimum `MTU` of `68` octets, while the recommended `MTU` - for IPv4 is `576` (typically recommended as the `MTU` for dial-up type applications), - whether they arrive whole or in fragments. +- The `MTU` is the largest size a given link layer technology can support for + datagram messages. For any link, `IPv4` mandates a minimum `MTU` of `68` + octets, while the recommended `MTU` for IPv4 is `576` (typically recommended + as the `MTU` for dial-up type applications), whether they arrive whole or in + fragments. For `IPv6`, the minimum `MTU` is `1280` octets, however, the mandatory minimum - fragment reassembly buffer size is `1500` octets. - The value of `68` octets is very small, since most current link layer technologies have - a minimum `MTU` of `1500` (like Ethernet). + fragment reassembly buffer size is `1500` octets. The value of `68` octets is + very small, since most current link layer technologies, like Ethernet, have a + minimum `MTU` of `1500`. -Note that it's impossible to know in advance the MTU of each link through which -a packet might travel, and that generally sending a datagram greater than -the (receiver) `MTU` won't work (the packet gets silently dropped, without -informing the source that the data did not reach its intended recipient). +It is impossible to know in advance the MTU of each link through which +a packet might travel. Sending a datagram greater than the receiver `MTU` will +not work because the packet will get silently dropped without informing the +source that the data did not reach its intended recipient. ### socket.setBroadcast(flag) * `flag` Boolean -Sets or clears the `SO_BROADCAST` socket option. When this option is set, UDP packets -may be sent to a local interface's broadcast address. +Sets or clears the `SO_BROADCAST` socket option. When set to `true`, UDP +packets may be sent to a local interface's broadcast address. ### socket.setMulticastLoopback(flag) * `flag` Boolean -Sets or clears the `IP_MULTICAST_LOOP` socket option. When this option is set, multicast -packets will also be received on the local interface. +Sets or clears the `IP_MULTICAST_LOOP` socket option. When set to `true`, +multicast packets will also be received on the local interface. ### socket.setMulticastTTL(ttl) * `ttl` Integer -Sets the `IP_MULTICAST_TTL` socket option. TTL stands for "Time to Live", but in this -context it specifies the number of IP hops that a packet is allowed to go through, -specifically for multicast traffic. Each router or gateway that forwards a packet -decrements the TTL. If the TTL is decremented to 0 by a router, it will not be forwarded. +Sets the `IP_MULTICAST_TTL` socket option. While TTL generally stands for +"Time to Live", in this context it specifies the number of IP hops that a +packet is allowed to travel through, specifically for multicast traffic. Each +router or gateway that forwards a packet decrements the TTL. If the TTL is +decremented to 0 by a router, it will not be forwarded. -The argument to `setMulticastTTL()` is a number of hops between 0 and 255. The default on most -systems is 1. +The argument passed to to `socket.setMulticastTTL()` is a number of hops +between 0 and 255. The default on most systems is `1` but can vary. ### socket.setTTL(ttl) * `ttl` Integer -Sets the `IP_TTL` socket option. TTL stands for "Time to Live", but in this context it -specifies the number of IP hops that a packet is allowed to go through. Each router or -gateway that forwards a packet decrements the TTL. If the TTL is decremented to 0 by a -router, it will not be forwarded. Changing TTL values is typically done for network -probes or when multicasting. +Sets the `IP_TTL` socket option. While TTL generally stands for "Time to Live", +in this context it specifies the number of IP hops that a packet is allowed to +travel through. Each router or gateway that forwards a packet decrements the +TTL. If the TTL is decremented to 0 by a router, it will not be forwarded. +Changing TTL values is typically done for network probes or when multicasting. -The argument to `setTTL()` is a number of hops between 1 and 255. The default -on most systems is 64. +The argument to `socket.setTTL()` is a number of hops between 1 and 255. +The default on most systems is 64 but can vary. ### 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. +By default, binding a socket will cause it to block the Node.js process from +exiting as long as the socket is open. The `socket.unref()` method can be used +to exclude the socket from the reference counting that keeps the Node.js +process active. The `socket.ref()` method adds the socket back to the reference +counting and restores the default behavior. + +Calling `socket.ref()` multiples times will have no additional effect. -Returns `socket`. +The `socket.ref()` method returns a reference to the socket so calls can be +chained. ### 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. +By default, binding a socket will cause it to block the Node.js process from +exiting as long as the socket is open. The `socket.unref()` method can be used +to exclude the socket from the reference counting that keeps the Node.js +process active, allowing the process to exit even if the socket is still +listening. + +Calling `socket.unref()` multiple times will have no addition effect. -Returns `socket`. +The `socket.unref()` method returns a reference to the socket so calls can be +chained. -## dgram.createSocket(options[, callback]) +### Change to asynchronous `socket.bind()` behavior + +As of Node.js v0.10, [`dgram.Socket#bind()`][] changed to an asynchronous +execution model. Legacy code that assumes synchronous behavior, as in the +following example: + + const s = dgram.createSocket('udp4'); + s.bind(1234); + s.addMembership('224.0.0.114'); + +Must be changed to pass a callback function to the [`dgram.Socket#bind()`][] +function: + + const s = dgram.createSocket('udp4'); + s.bind(1234, () => { + s.addMembership('224.0.0.114'); + }); + +## `dgram` module functions + +### dgram.createSocket(options[, callback]) * `options` Object * `callback` Function. Attached as a listener to `'message'` events. * Returns: Socket object -The `options` object should contain a `type` field of either `udp4` or `udp6` -and an optional boolean `reuseAddr` field. +Creates a `dgram.Socket` object. The `options` argument is an object that +should contain a `type` field of either `udp4` or `udp6` and an optional +boolean `reuseAddr` field. When `reuseAddr` is `true` [`socket.bind()`][] will reuse the address, even if another process has already bound a socket on it. `reuseAddr` defaults to -`false`. +`false`. An optional `callback` function can be passed specified which is added +as a listener for `'message'` events. -Takes an optional callback which is added as a listener for `'message'` events. - -Call [`socket.bind()`][] if you want to receive datagrams. [`socket.bind()`][] will -bind to the "all interfaces" address on a random port (it does the right thing -for both `udp4` and `udp6` sockets). You can then retrieve the address and port -with [`socket.address().address`][] and [`socket.address().port`][]. +Once the socket is created, calling [`socket.bind()`][] will instruct the +socket to begin listening for datagram messages. When `address` and `port` are +not passed to [`socket.bind()`][] the method will bind the socket to the "all +interfaces" address on a random port (it does the right thing for both `udp4` +and `udp6` sockets). The bound address and port can be retrieved using +[`socket.address().address`][] and [`socket.address().port`][]. ## dgram.createSocket(type[, callback]) @@ -301,24 +366,26 @@ with [`socket.address().address`][] and [`socket.address().port`][]. Optional * Returns: Socket object -Creates a datagram Socket of the specified types. Valid types are `udp4` -and `udp6`. - -Takes an optional callback which is added as a listener for `'message'` events. +Creates a `dgram.Socket` object of the specified `type`. The `type` argument +can be either `udp4` or `udp6`. An optional `callback` function can be passed +which is added as a listener for `'message'` events. -Call [`socket.bind()`][] if you want to receive datagrams. [`socket.bind()`][] will -bind to the "all interfaces" address on a random port (it does the right thing -for both `udp4` and `udp6` sockets). You can then retrieve the address and port -with [`socket.address().address`][] and [`socket.address().port`][]. +Once the socket is created, calling [`socket.bind()`][] will instruct the +socket to begin listening for datagram messages. When `address` and `port` are +not passed to [`socket.bind()`][] the method will bind the socket to the "all +interfaces" address on a random port (it does the right thing for both `udp4` +and `udp6` sockets). The bound address and port can be retrieved using +[`socket.address().address`][] and [`socket.address().port`][]. +[`EventEmitter`]: events.html +[`Buffer`]: buffer.html [`'close'`]: #dgram_event_close [`addMembership()`]: #dgram_socket_addmembership_multicastaddress_multicastinterface [`close()`]: #dgram_socket_close_callback -[`dgram.createSocket(...)`]: #dgram_dgram_createsocket_options_callback +[`dgram.createSocket()`]: #dgram_dgram_createsocket_options_callback [`dgram.Socket#bind()`]: #dgram_socket_bind_options_callback [`Error`]: errors.html#errors_class_error [`socket.address().address`]: #dgram_socket_address [`socket.address().port`]: #dgram_socket_address [`socket.bind()`]: #dgram_socket_bind_port_address_callback -[`socket.bind(port, \[address\], \[callback\])`]: #dgram_socket_bind_port_address_callback [byte length]: buffer.html#buffer_class_method_buffer_bytelength_string_encoding