Why is packet socket checked before bridge in netif_receive_skb?

["Simon Barber" <simon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In netif_receive_skb there is code that checks the ptype_all handlers (protocol handlers that want to handle all protocol types) before the bridge hook, and code to check the specific protocol handlers after the bridge hook.

 

The protocol handlers are also used to implement packet sockets. - Why is the all handler checked before the bridge hook?

 

(I'm reading code from 2.4.26).

 

Simon