Packets and Protocol
What is a packet
In Information technology, a packet is collection of data that can be used by computers which need to communicate with each other, usually as part of a network. Some computers and networks do not use packets to communicate. But most currently do, including nearly all computers on the Internet. Packets allow many computers on a network to communicate more quickly and easily. Computer communications links that do not support packets simply transmit data as a series of bytes,characters, or bits alone. An example of a packet is an IP, Ethernet and frame relay.
What is a protocol
A network protocol defines rules and conventions for communication between network devices. Protocols for computer networking all generally use packet switching techniques to send and receive messages in the form of packets. Network protocols include mechanisms for devices to identify and make connections with each other, as well as formatting rules that specify how data is packaged into messages sent and received. Some protocols also support message acknowledgement and data compression designed for reliable and/or high-performance network communication. Hundreds of different computer network protocols have been developed each designed for specific purposes and environments. Network protocols like HTTP, TCP/IP, and provide a foundation that much of the Internet is built on.