What is Network Protocol?

Network protocol is a communication protocol for exchanging data between computers or processes, in a computer network computers are connected to each other. The arrangement consists of a set of rules and formats (syntax) that the communication behavior to determine the communicating entities in the computer (semantics).

Basics of Network Protocol

The exchange of messages often requires a combination of different protocols, for different tasks (e.g. Internet protocol suite ). To master the complexity related to individual protocols the layers organized. Within such an architecture, each protocol belongs to a particular layer and is responsible for the execution of specific tasks (such as checking the data for completeness – layer 2). Higher layer protocols use the services of protocols deeper layers (layer 3 leaves, for example, that the data arrived). Along the way structured protocols form a protocol stack – based on the ISO-OSI reference model. Messages of a particular layer are also called protocol data units.

The typical structure of a Network Protocol

The structure described in any one of a protocol data packet includes the important information about data exchange package, such as:

1. The sender and receiver
2. The type of the packet (e.g. connect , disconnect or pure data)
3. The packet length
4. A checksum

This information is provided as a header to the payload data or attached as a preview. Moreover, in some protocols; fixed packet sequences for the connection establishment and release are described. These actions cause further traffic on the data lines – the so-called overhead. This overhead is undesirable because it burdens the capacity, but due to the more important tasks, making the logs, usually it is used. With User Datagram Protocol (UDP), in the transport layer a minimal overhead is available that does not ensure end-to-end control of the transmission. In contrast, in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the checksum for the test to verify the data packet is complete. If the checksum does not meet expectations of the test algorithm, the data packet is discarded and requested again at the sending site.

Distinguishing features of network protocols

The number of parties involved in the communication part; if there is a transmission with only a receiver, it is called unicast, for the transfer to several nodes, it is known as multicast . If the package is sent at all, it is a broadcast.

Communication takes place only in one direction, one speaks of simplex, the data flows alternately in both directions, from half-duplex or simultaneously in both directions, from full duplex. Status of communication participants are equal among themselves, it is called peer-to-peer or symmetric, otherwise it is asymmetric communication. The most widely used model is the asymmetric client-server model in which a service provider (the server ) requests processing from different clients (in which always the client is initiating the communication, that is a channel opening).

If communication is synchronized with a clock signal, it is called synchronous data transfer, otherwise it is asynchronous data transfer. If you can wait for response to your inquiry, it is called synchronous communication, otherwise it is asynchronous communication. During a packet-oriented communication,  messages or data packets are transmitted in streaming with a continuous stream of individual characters working for connection-oriented protocols defined by specific packet sequences, the beginning and the end of a connection.

Use of Network protocols

The most famous use of protocols takes place around the internet, for loading of websites – HTTP or HTTPS  is used; for sending emails SMTP is used, for uploading and downloading files FTP , HTTP or HTTPS is/are used. You can search with particular network protocol name within this website for more information.