A network protocol is a set of rules that define how devices communicate over a network. Protocols specify how data is structured, transmitted, and acknowledged. They enable interoperability between different systems, from laptops to servers to routers. Each protocol solves specific communication problems, such as reliable delivery, encryption, or routing. Without protocols, networks would be chaotic and incompatible. Protocols operate at different layers of the networking stack, ranging from low level addressing to high level application messaging.
key characteristics
Common protocols include TCP, UDP, and HTTP. Lower layer protocols handle framing, addressing, and packet forwarding, while higher layer protocols define data formats and application semantics. Routers, switches, and servers rely on protocols to determine how to handle each packet. Protocols must handle errors, loss, congestion, and retransmission strategies. Debugging network problems often involves inspecting protocol behavior using tools like packet analyzers.