# PR_NewUDPSocket

Creates a new UDP socket.

## Syntax

```{code}
#include <prio.h>

PRFileDesc* PR_NewUDPSocket(void);
```

### Returns

The function returns one of the following values:

- Upon successful completion, a pointer to the {ref}`PRFileDesc` object
  created for the newly opened UDP socket.
- If the creation of a new UDP socket failed, `NULL`.

## Description

UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless, unreliable datagram
protocol of the TCP/IP protocol suite. UDP datagrams may be lost or
delivered in duplicates or out of sequence.

{ref}`PR_NewUDPSocket` creates a new UDP socket. The socket may be bound to
a well-known port number with {ref}`PR_Bind`. Datagrams can be sent with
{ref}`PR_SendTo` and received with {ref}`PR_RecvFrom`. When the socket is no
longer needed, it should be closed with a call to {ref}`PR_Close`.

## See Also

{ref}`PR_NewUDPSocket` is deprecated because it is hardcoded to create an
IPv4 UDP socket. New code should use {ref}`PR_OpenUDPSocket` instead, which
allows the address family (IPv4 or IPv6) of the new UDP socket to be
specified.