# connect(to:loop:timeout:) Connects to a remote [`SocketAddress`](/documentation/Event/SocketAddress). ``` static func connect(to address: SocketAddress, loop: EventLoop = .shared, timeout: Duration? = nil) async throws -> Socket ``` ## Parameters `address` A pre-built endpoint from [`SocketAddress`](/documentation/Event/SocketAddress). `loop` The event loop to drive. Defaults to [`shared`](/documentation/Event/EventLoop/shared). `timeout` Maximum time to wait for handshake completion. `nil` (default) waits indefinitely. On expiry the call throws [`SocketError.timeout`](/documentation/Event/SocketError/timeout); the partially-connected descriptor is closed before the error is thrown. ## Return Value A connected `Socket`. ## Discussion Creates a fresh non-blocking TCP socket, calls `connect(2)`, and (for `EINPROGRESS`) registers an `EV_WRITE` event to resume the continuation when the kernel completes the handshake — bounded by `timeout` if provided. > Throws: ``doc://Event/documentation/Event/SocketError/socketCreationFailed(_:)`` if `socket(2)` fails; > ``doc://Event/documentation/Event/SocketError/connectionFailed(_:)`` if `connect(2)` fails with anything > other than `EINPROGRESS`; ``doc://Event/documentation/Event/SocketError/timeout`` if `timeout` elapses > before the kernel reports write-readiness.