 in computing, a network interface is a system's (software and/or hardware) interface between two pieces of equipment or protocol layers in a computer network. a network interface will usually have some form of network address.https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/servlet/jiveservlet/previewbody/2810-102-1-7611/primch5.pdf this may consist of a node id and a port number or may be a unique node id in its own right. network interfaces provide standardized functions such as passing messages, connecting and disconnecting, etc. ==examples== * computer port (hardware), an interface to other computers or peripherals * network interface controller, the device a computer uses to connect to a computer network * network interface device, a demarcation point for a telephone network * network socket, a software interface to the network * port (computer networking), a protocol interface to the network ==references== 
Network_architecture Telecommunications_engineering