Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Windows sockets
     
         (Winsock) A specification for
        {Microsoft Windows} network software, describing how
        applications can access network services, especially {TCP/IP}.
        Winsock is intended to provide a single {API} to which
        application developers should program and to which multiple
        network software vendors should conform.  For any particular
        version of {Microsoft Windows}, it defines a binary interface
        ({ABI}) such that an application written to the Windows
        Sockets API can work with a conformant {protocol}
        implementation from any network software vendor.
     
        Winsock was conceived at Fall Interop '91 during a {Birds of a
        Feather} session.
     
        Windows Sockets is supported by {Microsoft Windows}, {Windows
        for Workgroups}, {Win32s}, {Windows 95} and {Windows NT}.  It
        will support protocols other than {TCP/IP}.  Under {Windows
        NT}, {Microsoft} will provide Windows Sockets support over
        {TCP/IP} and {IPX}/{SPX}.  {DEC} will be implementing
        {DECNet}.  {Windows NT} will include mechanisms for multiple
        {protocol} support in Windows Sockets, both 32-bit and 16 bit.
     
        Mark Towfiq said, "The next rev. of Winsock will not be until
        toward the end of 1993.  We need 1.1 of the {API} to become
        firmly settled and implemented first."
     
        {Windows Sockets API
        (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/micro/pc-stuff/ms-windows/winsock)}.
        or {(ftp://microdyne.com/pub/winsock)} or send a message
        "help" to either  or
        .
     
        {Windows Sockets specification (ftp://rhino.microsoft.com)}.
     
        Currently NetManage (NEWT), Distinct, FTP and Frontier are
        shipping Winsock {TCP/IP} stacks, as is {Microsoft} (Windows
        NT and {TCP/IP} for WFW), Beame & Whiteside Software (v1.1
        compliant), and Sun PC-NFS.  Windows 95 has "dial-up
        networking" which supports Winsock and TCP/IP.
     
        winsock.dll is available from some {TCP/IP} stack vendors.
        {Novell} has one in beta for their {Lan Workplace} for {DOS}.
     
        Peter Tattam  is
        alpha-testing a shareware Windows Sockets compliant {TCP/IP}
        stack {(ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winsock.zip)}.
        and {(ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winpkt.com)}.
     
        {The Consummate Winsock App List
        (http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~Neuroses/cwsapps.html)}.
     
        [Adapted from: Aboba, Bernard D., comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc
        Frequently Asked Questions, 1993 {Usenet}: {news:news.answers},
        {(ftp://netcom1.netcom.com/pub/mailcom/IBMTCP/)}].
     
        [Current status?]
     
        (1996-06-20)