Introduction

Bonjour is Apple's implementation of Zero Configuration Networking (Zeroconf). Zeroconf is a methodology that automatically creates a usable computer network without manual operator intervention or the need for special configuration servers. Bonjour locates devices and services on a local network using the multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) service.

In other words, Bonjour allows for the automatic discovery and configuration of devices and services without the user having to manually configure them. A great example of Bonjour in the real world is a printer connected to the USB port of an Apple Time Capsule. Any device that has Bonjour enabled and is connected to the local network will be able to find and use the printer without the network configuration of the printer.

The Bonjour API provides a solution to publish, browse, and resolve a service or device. The main thing to be kept in mind is that Bonjour does not implement the service; it just provides a means to discover and...