Protocol
The protocol is a term used to describe how computers exchange information with one another. For example, humans communicate in various ways including by using language, hand gestures, and facial expressions. Normally, two humans simply begin communicating; they don’t discuss how to go about doing so. Computers can’t simply begin communicating; they must first determine how to go about doing so. They need to know how the information will be exchanged and what format the information is in. A protocol is a computer communications method used to standardize communications between computers. International committees establish protocols to ensure that computers from around the world are equipped to exchange information.
You may already be familiar with protocols. For example, the “HTTP” in website addresses stands for the HyperText Transfer Protocol which is used in conjunction with Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) to display Web pages in a standard, consistent manner. Another well-known protocol is POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) which is used for retrieving email. A POP3 address identifies the POP3 server where the incoming mail is stored. Knowing that location, the email client can retrieve and download messages onto the user’s computer. A computer protocol is simply a standardized method for communicating or exchanging data.
Protocol Associated Applications:
Computer networks, email applications, Web browsers, routers