Java — How to read an unknown number of bytes from an inputStream (socket/socketServer)?

Question

Looking to read in some bytes over a socket using an inputStream. The bytes sent by the server may be of variable quantity, and the client doesn\'t know in advance the lengt

Answer 1

Either:

1. Have the sender close the socket after transferring the bytes. Then at the receiver just keep reading until EOS.

2. Have the sender prefix a length word as per Chris's suggestion, then read that many bytes.

3. Use a self-describing protocol such as XML, Serialization, ...