3.1.6 - Define the terms: protocol, data packet.

Question 1

What is a protocol?

Answer 1

A protocol is a set of standards that allow devices to communicate. It therefore governs the transmission of data. For example, it will specify the format of data packets, the addressing system and the transmission speed.

Question 2

What is a data packet?

Answer 2

A packet is a formatted unit of data carried by a packet-switched network.

Question 3

Describe data packets.

Answer 3

When data is transferred it is broken down into small pieces called packets. These are sent separately and then joined up at the end so that the message is complete. A packet consists of: a header - contains the source and destination address along with the position of the packet in the message or file; the body - contains part of the complete message data (sometimes called the payload); and a footer - informs the receiving device that it has reached the end of the packet.