3.1.6+Protocols,+Data+and+Packets

**__Protocol:__**
A protocol defines the format and the order of messages exchanged between two or more communicating entities, as well as the actions taken on the transmission and/or receipt of a message or other event.

Network Protocol Map

__**Data:**__
Data is anything in a form suitable for use with a computer, such as binary. It’s information that has been translated into a form that is more convenient to move or process.



__**Packet**__
A packet is a collection of data that can be used by computers which need to communicate with each other, usually as part of a network. To improve communication performance and reliability, each message sent between two network devices is often divided into packets by the hardware and software.

Packet formats generally include a header, the body containing the message data and sometimes a footer. The packet header lists the destination of the packet and often indicates the length of the message data. The packet footer contains data that signifies the end of the packet.