Recive different type of objects on the same TCP socket

Question

so here is the deal: I have a server running that is constantly accepting clients by TCP socket:

public ArrayList<Socket> lista_users = new ArrayList<Socket>();

Socket s;

            s = serverSocket.accept();

            lista_users.add(s);
            avisa_all(lista_users, s);

            Thread t_trata_cliente = new Thread(new trata_cliente(lista_users, s));
            t_trata_cliente.start(); //this Thread is responsable for interacting with
                                    //the clients (where my question is)

Saving the sockets on array list. After i want to send different type of information to my clients(Thread "trata_cliente"). When i say different type of information i mean, first send a warning message, then an object, then some message, then object again.

What is the best way to do it?

Answer 1

Encapsulate the output stream of the socket with the appropriate wrapper:

• DataOutputStream : To send primitive data type + Strings.
• ObjectOutputStream : To send objects through the stream.