The dgram module provides UDP datagram sockets for connectionless networking. Here's how to use it.
Basic UDP Server
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Basic UDP Client
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UDP Echo Server
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IPv6 Support
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Multicast
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Broadcast
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Socket Options
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Message Framing
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Service Discovery
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UDP with Promises
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Error Handling
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Best Practices
Socket Configuration:
✓ Use reuseAddr for multiple listeners
✓ Set appropriate buffer sizes
✓ Handle all error events
✓ Clean up on close
Message Handling:
✓ Validate incoming data
✓ Implement timeouts
✓ Handle partial messages
✓ Use sequence numbers
Multicast:
✓ Join/leave groups properly
✓ Set appropriate TTL
✓ Handle loopback
✓ Use reuseAddr
Avoid:
✗ Ignoring errors
✗ Assuming delivery
✗ Large datagrams (>512 bytes safe)
✗ Blocking operations
Conclusion
The Node.js dgram module provides UDP networking for connectionless communication. Use it for real-time applications, service discovery, broadcasts, and multicast scenarios where occasional packet loss is acceptable. Always handle errors, implement timeouts for request-response patterns, and keep messages small for reliable delivery. For guaranteed delivery or streaming data, consider TCP with the net module instead.