src/java.base/share/classes/java/nio/channels/package-info.java

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   * implements unidirectional pipes.  In all cases, a new selectable channel is
   * created by invoking the static {@code open} method of the corresponding class.
   * If a channel needs an associated socket then a socket will be created as a side
   * effect of this operation.
   *
+  * <p> {@link java.nio.channels.DatagramChannel},
+  * {@link java.nio.channels.SocketChannel} and
+  * {@link java.nio.channels.ServerSocketChannel}s can be created
+  * with different {@link java.net.ProtocolFamily protocol families}. The standard
+  * family types are specified in {@link java.net.StandardProtocolFamily}.
+  *
+  * <p> Channels for <i>Internet Protocol</i> sockets are created using the
+  * {@link java.net.StandardProtocolFamily#INET INET} or {@link
+  * java.net.StandardProtocolFamily#INET6 INET6} protocol families. <i>Internet
+  * Protocol</i> sockets support network communication using TCP and UDP and are
+  * addressed using {@link java.net.InetSocketAddress}es which encapsulate an IP
+  * address and port number. <i>Internet Protocol</i> sockets are also the default
+  * type created, when a protocol family is not specified in the channel factory
+  * creation method.
+  *
+  * <p> Channels for <a id="unixdomain"></a><i>Unix Domain</i> sockets are created
+  * using the {@link java.net.StandardProtocolFamily#UNIX UNIX} protocol family.
+  * <i>Unix Domain</i> sockets support local inter-process
+  * communication on the same host, and are addressed using {@link
+  * java.net.UnixDomainSocketAddress}es which encapsulate a filesystem pathname
+  * on the local system.
+  *
   * <p> The implementation of selectors, selectable channels, and selection keys
   * can be replaced by "plugging in" an alternative definition or instance of the
   * {@link java.nio.channels.spi.SelectorProvider} class defined in the {@link
   * java.nio.channels.spi} package.  It is not expected that many developers
   * will actually make use of this facility; it is provided primarily so that