1# packet [](https://github.com/mdlayher/packet/actions) [](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/mdlayher/packet) [](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/mdlayher/packet)
2
3Package `packet` provides access to Linux packet sockets (`AF_PACKET`). MIT
4Licensed.
5
6## Stability
7
8See the [CHANGELOG](./CHANGELOG.md) file for a description of changes between
9releases.
10
11This package has a stable v1 API and any future breaking changes will prompt
12the release of a new major version. Features and bug fixes will continue to
13occur in the v1.x.x series.
14
15This package only supports the two most recent major versions of Go, mirroring
16Go's own release policy. Older versions of Go may lack critical features and bug
17fixes which are necessary for this package to function correctly.
18
19## History
20
21One of my first major Go networking projects was
22[`github.com/mdlayher/raw`](https://github.com/mdlayher/raw), which provided
23access to Linux `AF_PACKET` sockets and *BSD equivalent mechanisms for sending
24and receiving Ethernet frames. However, the *BSD support languished and I lack
25the expertise and time to properly maintain code for operating systems I do not
26use on a daily basis.
27
28Package `packet` is a successor to package `raw`, but exclusively focused on
29Linux and `AF_PACKET` sockets. The APIs are nearly identical, but with a few
30changes which take into account some of the lessons learned while working on
31`raw`.
32
33Users are highly encouraged to migrate any existing Linux uses of `raw` to
34package `packet` instead. This package will be supported for the foreseeable
35future and will receive continued updates as necessary.
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