Libnet
A portable C library for constructing and injecting network packets at IP and link layers.
What is Libnet?
Libnet is a portable C library for constructing and injecting network packets at both IP and link layers. It solves the problem of platform-specific network programming by providing a unified API for building custom network tools, security applications, and network test code. Developers use it to create packets from scratch and send them directly onto the network.
Network tool developers, security researchers, and system programmers who need to create custom network protocols, test network stacks, or build security testing tools like network scanners and packet injectors.
Developers choose Libnet because it provides a mature, portable framework that abstracts away platform-specific networking details while maintaining low-level control. Its integration with libpcap enables powerful network analysis tools, and its long history in projects like ettercap and nemesis proves its reliability.
Overview
A portable framework for low-level network packet construction
Use Cases
Best For
- Building custom network protocol implementations
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