Software-defined networking (SDN) is an approach to network management that enables network administrators to programmatically control network behavior directly from software applications, rather than through the hardware infrastructure. In traditional network architectures, such as those based on routers and switches, network control and forwarding functions are tightly coupled. SDN decouples these functions, allowing network control to become directly programmable and the underlying infrastructure to be abstracted for applications and network services. Key components of SDN include: SDN Controller: The central component of an SDN architecture, the controller is responsible for managing the flow control to facilitate network traffic. It provides a centralized view of the network and communicates with network devices using southbound APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Southbound APIs: These interfaces allow the SDN controller to communicate with the data plane devices, such as switches and routers, to configure and manage their behavior. Examples of southbound APIs include OpenFlow, NETCONF, and RESTful APIs. Northbound APIs: These interfaces expose the functionality of the SDN controller to higher-layer applications and orchestration systems. They enable applications to interact with the SDN controller to implement network policies and services. Northbound APIs can vary depending on the specific SDN controller platform. Network Devices: These are the switches, routers, and other network devices that forward traffic based on instructions received from the SDN controller. In an SDN architecture, these devices typically have simplified forwarding functionalities compared to traditional networking equipment.