# socket_recvfrom

(PHP 4 >= 4.0.7, PHP 5)

socket_recvfrom — Receives data from a socket whether or not it is connection-oriented

### Description

int socket_recvfrom ( resource `$socket` , string `&$buf` , int `$len` , int `$flags` , string `&$name` [, int `&$port` ] )

The socket_recvfrom() function receives `len` bytes of data in `buf` from `name` on port `port` (if the socket is not of type `AF_UNIX`) using `socket` . socket_recvfrom() can be used to gather data from both connected and unconnected sockets. Additionally, one or more flags can be specified to modify the behaviour of the function.

The `name` and `port` must be passed by reference. If the socket is not connection-oriented, `name` will be set to the internet protocol address of the remote host or the path to the UNIX socket. If the socket is connection-oriented, `name` is `NULL`. Additionally, the `port` will contain the port of the remote host in the case of an unconnected `AF_INET` or `AF_INET6` socket.

### Parameters

`socket`

  The `socket` must be a socket resource previously created by socket_create().

`buf`

  The data received will be fetched to the variable specified with `buf` .

`len`

  Up to `len` bytes will be fetched from remote host.

`flags`

  The value of `flags` can be any combination of the following flags, joined with the binary OR (|) operator.

  Possible values for `flags`
  Flag | Description
  --- | ---
  `MSG_OOB` | Process out-of-band data.
  `MSG_PEEK` | Receive data from the beginning of the receive queue without removing it from the queue.
  `MSG_WAITALL` | Block until at least `len` are received. However, if a signal is caught or the remote host disconnects, the function may return less data.
  `MSG_DONTWAIT` | With this flag set, the function returns even if it would normally have blocked.

`name`

  If the socket is of the type `AF_UNIX` type, `name` is the path to the file. Else, for unconnected sockets, `name` is the IP address of, the remote host, or `NULL` if the socket is connection-oriented.

`port`

  This argument only applies to `AF_INET` and `AF_INET6` sockets, and specifies the remote port from which the data is received. If the socket is connection-oriented, `port` will be `NULL`.

### Return Values

socket_recvfrom() returns the number of bytes received, or -1 if there was an error. The actual error code can be retrieved by calling socket_last_error(). This error code may be passed to socket_strerror() to get a textual explanation of the error.

### Examples

Example#1 socket_recvfrom() example

`<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL | E_STRICT);
$socket = socket_create(AF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, SOL_UDP);
socket_bind($socket, '127.0.0.1', 1223);
$from = "";
$port = 0;
socket_recvfrom($socket, $buf, 12, 0, $from, $port);
echo "Received $buf from remote address $from and remote port $port" . PHP_EOL;
?>`

This example will initiate an UDP socket on port 1223 of 127.0.0.1 and print at most 12 characters received from a remote host.

### ChangeLog

Version | Description
--- | ---
4.3.0 | socket_recvfrom() is now binary safe.

### See Also

- socket_recv()
- socket_send()
- socket_sendto()
- socket_create()