What is the range of Well-Known ports as defined by IANA?

The range of Well-Known ports as defined by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is from 0 to 1023. These ports are used by system or root processes and are assigned to specific services or protocols, facilitating standardized communication across networks. For example, port 80 is commonly used for HTTP, and port 443 is used for HTTPS.

This classification is significant in network architecture because it helps in organizing services and applications within defined boundaries. Ports within this range are reserved, meaning they should not be used for general or less formal purposes, as they could interfere with the functionality of established protocols.

Other ranges mentioned, such as 1024-49151 and 49152-65535, are designated as Registered ports and Dynamic/Private ports, respectively. Registered ports can be assigned to user processes or applications by IANA, while Dynamic/Private ports are generally used for ephemeral purposes and are not typically assigned. These distinctions help delineate between reserved and user-defined services, which is important for maintaining orderly network traffic and enhancing security.