We explain what a computer protocol is, its properties and some examples. Also, what is a network and Internet protocol.
What is a computer protocol?
In computing and telecommunications, we talk about a protocol to refer to a system of rules that regulate communication between two or more systems that transmit information through various physical media.
In other words, protocols are languages or codes for communication between computer systems, defined based on syntax, semantics and synchronization, as well as error recovery methods.
It depends on the protocols, then, to ensure that two or more computer systems can communicate in an efficient and orderly manner, that is, that they speak the same language. These languages are implemented using hardware or software, or combinations of both, and gives each participant in the communication an identity and a specific method of processing information.
These protocols can vary greatly and be more or less sophisticated, such as secret codes. However, they usually have at least one of the following properties:
- Detection of the underlying physical connection.
- Negotiation of connection characteristics.
- Bug fix policy.
- Establishment of the connection and its termination.
- What to do in case of sudden loss of connectivity.
- Security or encryption strategies.
- Message format.
See also: HTTP
Examples of computer protocol
Some examples of protocols in the computing field are:
- FTP (File Transfer protocol) One of the many protocols used to upload or download files at high speeds over a computer network, and which favors effectiveness over security.
- DNS (Domain Yam Service). A naming protocol for Internet Web pages, which allows you to connect your URL address with the specific path where the resources and information to be displayed are located.
- HTTP (HyperText Transfer protocol) Also commonly used on the Internet, it serves to establish hypertexts or informative jumps between one page and another, and is also a programming language that allows the design of the pages themselves.
- POP (Post Office protocol). Specific for email services, it allows you to recover messages stored on a remote server (POP Server), especially on intermittent or very slow connections.
Network protocol
Network protocols are specially designed for communication over computer networks which operate by breaking up the information sent into small pieces, rather than all at once. The parts are easy and quick to transmit, but stored in their indicated order to preserve meaning and operate together.
These protocols also operate based on different layers, which allow appropriate routes to be established to get the information to its destination even if there are no direct connections between the sender and the receiver. To do this, these layers are managed independently, in two large stacks: the one belonging to the transport and the one belonging to the link.
Internet Protocol
An Internet Protocol (or IP, Internet protocol) is a type of computer communications protocol oriented towards two-way communication (origin-destination) to transmit switched packets of information, according to the OSI data link standard.
IPs attempt to route data packets through the best available route, considering how vast the Internet can be today.
IP protocols do not guarantee the arrival of the package at its destination but the security of its delivery, which is why it is considered a “best effort” datagram service, that is, without guarantees, so the packages may arrive damaged or in a different order. In that sense, they are surpassed by TCP protocols (Transmission Control Protocols).
There are already several versions of this protocol, classified as IPvX, the most current of which is IPv4, whose depletion of resources is already driving the creation and use of IPv6. Versions 0 to 3 were reserved and version 5 is experimental.