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Quizzes > Computers & IT

CompTIA A+ TCP port numbers quiz

Quick, free network ports quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Kianoosh BagherpoorUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style network cables ports and devices on golden yellow background promoting CompTIA A plus port numbers quiz

This quiz helps you check and remember the common TCP port numbers for the CompTIA A+. Answer quick questions to build recall and spot gaps before the exam. For more networking practice, try the ip address quiz, or prep broadly with the CompTIA A+ 1001 practice test and the CompTIA A+ 1002 practice test.

Which TCP port is the default for HTTP web traffic?
8080
443
80
23
HTTP, the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web, uses TCP port 80 by default. This port is standardized by IANA for serving unencrypted web pages. Clients connect to port 80 to retrieve web content without encryption. For more details, see .
What TCP port is used by HTTPS for secure web traffic?
21
80
23
443
HTTPS uses port 443 to encrypt HTTP traffic with SSL/TLS. This secures data between the client and server by default. Web browsers automatically switch to port 443 when HTTPS is specified. See for more information.
Which TCP port is the default control channel for FTP?
21
23
20
22
FTP uses port 21 for control commands like login and directory navigation. Port 20 is used for the data channel in active mode FTP. The control channel on 21 remains open for sending commands throughout the session. For reference, see .
In active mode FTP, what TCP port is used for the data channel?
20
21
22
445
Active mode FTP opens port 20 on the server for the data transfer channel. The client connects from a random port to port 20 for data. Control commands still use port 21. See for the FTP specification.
What is the default TCP port for SSH remote logins?
443
21
22
23
Secure Shell (SSH) uses TCP port 22 to establish encrypted remote sessions. This port was standardized to replace insecure protocols like Telnet. SSH provides strong authentication and encryption on port 22 by default. More details at .
Which TCP port is used by Telnet for unencrypted remote sessions?
23
22
25
21
Telnet operates on TCP port 23 and provides a plaintext remote shell. Due to the lack of encryption, it has been largely replaced by SSH. However, port 23 remains the default for legacy devices. For more, see .
Which TCP port is used by SMTP for sending email?
143
25
110
587
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) uses port 25 for mail relay and delivery. Port 587 is an alternative submission port for email clients. Port 25 remains the standard between mail servers. Details are found in .
What is the default TCP port for POP3 email retrieval?
110
993
995
143
POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) uses port 110 for clients to retrieve email from a server. Secure POP3 (POP3S) uses port 995 with TLS/SSL. Port 110 remains the default for unencrypted connections. See .
Which TCP port is used for IMAP email retrieval?
995
110
143
993
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) uses port 143 for retrieving and managing messages on a mail server. Secure IMAP (IMAPS) uses port 993 with SSL/TLS. IMAP provides more advanced features than POP3. Details are in .
What is the default TCP port for NTP time synchronization?
69
119
123
161
NTP (Network Time Protocol) uses port 123 for synchronizing clocks over packet-switched networks. It can use both UDP and TCP but typically relies on UDP/123. Accurate time is critical for many network services. See .
Which TCP port is assigned to SNMP for management?
162
143
69
161
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) uses port 161 for agent queries. Port 162 is used for SNMP traps. SNMP enables network administrators to monitor and manage devices. More info at .
What is the default TCP port for LDAP directory services?
3268
636
389
88
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) uses port 389 for unencrypted directory queries. Secure LDAP (LDAPS) uses port 636 with SSL/TLS. Port 3268 is used for the Global Catalog in Active Directory. Details in .
Which TCP port is used by Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?
3388
5900
3389
22
RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) uses TCP port 3389 for remote graphical sessions to Windows machines. It supports encryption and network-level authentication. Many firewalls require explicit rules for port 3389. See .
What is the default TCP port for MySQL database connections?
1521
3306
5432
1433
MySQL uses port 3306 by default for client-server communication. This port is registered with IANA for MySQL. PostgreSQL uses 5432, Microsoft SQL Server uses 1433. More at .
Which TCP port does POP3S use for secure email retrieval?
995
993
143
110
POP3S is the SSL/TLS-encrypted version of POP3 and uses port 995. Unencrypted POP3 communicates on port 110. Clients must initiate TLS negotiation before authentication. See .
What is the default TCP port for implicit FTPS control connections?
2121
990
21
989
Implicit FTPS establishes the control channel on port 990 and secures it immediately with SSL/TLS. Port 989 is used for the implicit FTPS data channel. Explicit FTPS negotiates security over the standard FTP port 21. More at .
Which TCP port is used for LDAPS (LDAP over SSL/TLS)?
636
3268
3269
389
LDAPS uses port 636 to encrypt LDAP traffic with SSL/TLS. Port 389 is for unencrypted LDAP. Port 3268 is for the Global Catalog and 3269 is its secure counterpart. Details are in .
What is the default TCP port for Microsoft SQL Server database access?
1433
1521
3306
5432
Microsoft SQL Server listens on port 1433 by default for incoming connections. This is registered with IANA for SQL Server. Oracle uses 1521, PostgreSQL uses 5432, and MySQL uses 3306. See .
Which TCP port does PPTP use for VPN tunneling?
500
1701
1723
4500
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) uses port 1723 for control messages and GRE protocol 47 for encapsulated data. L2TP uses UDP 1701, and IPsec uses ports 500 and 4500. Details at .
What is the default TCP port used by VNC for remote screen sharing?
6080
5901
3389
5900
VNC servers listen on 5900 plus the display number. Display :0 uses port 5900, :1 uses 5901, etc. It provides remote graphical desktop access. For further details, see .
Which TCP port does the Kerberos authentication service use by default?
88
636
389
464
Kerberos uses port 88 for authentication requests. Port 464 is used for password changes in Kerberos. LDAP uses 389 and LDAP over SSL uses 636. See .
What TCP port is assigned to SMB/CIFS file sharing in modern Windows environments?
137
138
139
445
SMB over TCP/IP uses port 445 directly, without the NetBIOS layer. Older implementations used port 139 with NetBIOS. Ports 137 and 138 are NetBIOS name and datagram services. More at .
Which TCP port is used by NetBIOS Session Service?
139
445
137
138
NetBIOS Session Service uses TCP port 139 for session establishment and management. NetBIOS Name Service uses UDP 137, Datagram Service uses UDP 138, and SMB over TCP uses 445. For more, see .
What is the default TCP port for HTTP alternate traffic often used by proxies?
8888
8000
3128
8080
Port 8080 is commonly used as an alternate HTTP port, especially for web proxies and development servers. Other ports like 3128 are specific to certain proxy software. Browsers default to port 80 unless another port is specified. Refer to .
According to IANA, what is the default dynamic/private port range?
60000 - 61000
0 - 1023
1024 - 49151
49152 - 65535
IANA reserves ports 49152 through 65535 for dynamic or private use. Ports 0 - 1023 are well-known, and 1024 - 49151 are registered. Applications and operating systems use the dynamic range for ephemeral client ports. See .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Standard Port Numbers -

    After completing the quiz, readers will be able to accurately recall common TCP port assignments such as FTP (21), IMAP (143), and HTTPS (443).

  2. Distinguish Key Network Protocols -

    Readers will learn to match network protocols to their respective port numbers, enhancing their understanding of how services like POP3 and SMTP function.

  3. Apply Port Assignments in Practical Scenarios -

    Users will be able to apply correct port numbers when designing, configuring, or troubleshooting network services in real”world environments.

  4. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Readers will use instant scoring feedback to identify areas of strength and those needing improvement in their port number knowledge.

  5. Prepare Strategically for A+ Exam Questions -

    This quiz will help candidates focus their study efforts by reinforcing port number areas most commonly tested on the CompTIA A+ certification.

  6. Enhance Speed and Accuracy in Port Identification -

    By practicing under timed conditions, readers will build the confidence to quickly and accurately identify port numbers during exams and on-the-job tasks.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Well-Known TCP Port Range -

    The TCP port numbers from 0 - 1023 are "well-known" and standardized by IANA, making them critical for network services (IETF RFC 6335). CompTIA A+ objectives emphasize memorizing the top ten, such as 21, 22, 25, 53, 80, 110, 143, and 443. Try a mnemonic like "FTP-SSH-SMTP-DNS-HTTP-POP-IMAP-HTTPS" to lock these in place.

  2. FTP Control vs. Data Ports -

    According to RFC 959, FTP uses port 21 for control commands and port 20 for data transfer, a distinction tested on the A+ exam. Remember "21 talks, 20 ships" to differentiate control from data channels. Understanding active vs. passive modes further prepares you for troubleshooting scenarios.

  3. HTTP (80) vs. HTTPS (443) -

    HTTP traffic runs on port 80, while HTTPS secures communications over port 443 with SSL/TLS encryption, per IETF standards. A simple way to recall is "Secure starts with S, so it's port 443." Knowing the TLS handshake steps will boost your confidence on port-based security questions.

  4. Email Retrieval: POP3 (110) & IMAP (143) -

    POP3 on port 110 downloads and often deletes mail locally, whereas IMAP on port 143 syncs messages across devices (RFC 1939 and RFC 3501). Use the phrase "POP out, IMAP in sync" to remember their behaviors and ports. This distinction is a popular topic in network port numbers quizzes.

  5. Secure Shell & Remote Access Ports -

    SSH runs on port 22 for encrypted terminal sessions, replacing Telnet on port 23 to prevent clear-text credentials (RFC 4251). Remember "22 is for you, no snooping," and contrast it with Telnet's insecure 23. Solid grasp of these a+ tcp port assignments ensures secure remote management.

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