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Original · left

Socket (outlet or anatomy)

An electrical wall outlet or a skeletal cavity designed to receive an articulating bone end.

First in use: the 1400s
Duplicate · right

Network socket

A bidirectional software endpoint bound to an IP address and port that facilitates inter-process network messaging.

First in use: c. 1983

Socket / Socket (outlet or anatomy) / Network socket

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Wall outlets vs. Berkeley sockets.

Which meaning of Socket is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Socket (outlet or anatomy) came first (the 1400s). Network socket arrived in 1983. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Socket (outlet or anatomy)Network socket
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1400s

Socket (outlet or anatomy)

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Duplicate · c. 1983

Network socket

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More duplicated terms

Cloud & infrastructure