A socket for an electric part such as an IC package comprising: a socket body which has a rectangle shape and has an accommodation surface adapted to accommodate the electric part having a lower surface to which terminals are provided; plural contact pins of horseshoe-shapes, which are disposed in parallel and at predetermined intervals to a peripheral edge of the socket body, and each of which has an elastic piece to contact with the terminals of the electric part, a latch rotatably disposed on the socket body so as to positioned above the contact pins, which presses an upper part of peripheral portion of the electric part when the latch is closed and is in a state the electric part is able to be accommodated onto and taken out from the accommodation surface when the latch is opened, and an operating member which is vertically movably disposed in the socket body, characterized in that the latch further comprises an operation portion to be operated for opening formed to a central portion in a width direction of the latch, and the operating member further comprises an operating portion for opening constituted so as to press down the operation portion to be operated for opening and rotate the latch in an opening direction when the operating member moves downward, wherein: an opening portion is formed to a central portion of the latch, and the operating portion for opening of the operating member is constituted so as to be inserted into the opening portion while pressing down the operation portion to be operated for opening formed at rear side of the opening portion of the latch when the operating member moves downward. a socket body which has a rectangle shape and has an accommodation surface adapted to accommodate the electric part having a lower surface to which terminals are provided; plural contact pins of horseshoe-shapes, which are disposed in parallel and at predetermined intervals to a peripheral edge of the socket body, and each of which has an elastic piece to contact with the terminals of the electric part, a latch rotatably disposed on the socket body so as to positioned above the contact pins, which presses an upper part of peripheral portion of the electric part when the latch is closed and is in a state the electric part is able to be accommodated onto and taken out from the accommodation surface when the latch is opened, and an operating member which is vertically movably disposed in the socket body, characterized in that the latch further comprises an operation portion to be operated for opening formed to a central portion in a width direction of the latch, and the operating member further comprises an operating portion for opening constituted so as to press down the operation portion to be operated for opening and rotate the latch in an opening direction when the operating member moves downward, wherein: an opening portion is formed to a central portion of the latch, and the operating portion for opening of the operating member is constituted so as to be inserted into the opening portion while pressing down the operation portion to be operated for opening formed at rear side of the opening portion of the latch when the operating member moves downward.