Protocols
A protocol is a set of rules for transmitting data across a network.

Computers would not be able to communicate if there was no protocol as they would not be able to interpret each other's transmitted data.

Protocols will have rules for...

  • detecting a connection
  • handshaking
  • how to start and end a message
  • how to format a message
  • what to do about errors
  • how to detect a loss of connection and what to do next
  • terminating a connection

TCP/IP is the basic communication protocol of the Internet and other networks.

 

Some other common protocols are:
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is used for transferring web pages between a client and a server on the Internet. It is also used on intranets.

 

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used for transferring files from one computer to another. Eg. Uploading web page files to a web server.

 

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending an email over the Internet.

 

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is used for sending voiced messages over the Internet.

 

Wireless protocols enable the transmission of data over a wireless network. An example of a wireless protocol is WAP that allows access to the Internet from mobile phones.