Details: Protocol Definition
Confused about the word “protocol”? Definition: computer protocols are standard methods for transmitting and processing information between computers. Most often a protocol definition is standardized and agreed upon by a number of authorities. This standardization ensures that all computers using a given protocol work with the information as defined by the protocol. Computer protocols are often used in conjunction with the Internet. After all, the Internet takes on the brunt of network communications. They are also used by email programs, intranets, programs that must communicate with other computers (not necessarily over the Internet), and applications.
An example of a protocol definition would be TCP/IP which is a common network protocol that is actually a suite of protocols responsible for transmitting “packets” of information across networks. In this case, the protocol definition would cover TCP, which stands for Transmission Control Protocol, and IP, which stands for Internet Protocol. These protocols work together to break data into small packets which are transmitted across the network and then put back together. Since the protocol definition is standardized, computers from around the world understand how to send and receive the packets. Protocols allow computers to apply the right techniques to communicate with one another.
Associated Protocol Definition Applications:
Computer networks, email applications, Web browsers, routers