I'm still relatively new to sockets, and I haven't seen any information regarding this subject. To write to a connected socket, you can either use socket.getOutputStream().write Or create a new DataOutputStream from the socket OutputStream and write to that. What is considered "good practice", using a DataOutputStream or OutputStream? Most of the examples I find on the internet use DataOutputStream (to send Strings, such as in a two way chat). Are there any advantages or disadvantages from using DataOutputStream over OutputStream? Is there any difference in performance that is noticeable between these two when, for example, sending files?

Java sockets: DataOutputStream or OutputStream?

I'm still relatively new to sockets, and I haven't seen any information regarding this subject.

To write to a connected socket, you can either use

socket.getOutputStream().write

Or create a new DataOutputStream from the socket OutputStream and write to that.

What is considered "good practice", using a DataOutputStream or OutputStream? Most of the examples I find on the internet use DataOutputStream (to send Strings, such as in a two way chat).
Are there any advantages or disadvantages from using DataOutputStream over OutputStream?
Is there any difference in performance that is noticeable between these two when, for example, sending files?