What is the protocol? Definition, Types, Functions

ProgramingsPoint

14 Oct, 2023

In computer networks, there are some rules for connecting computers together and communicating or exchanging data, these rules are called protocols. And in today's article, we are going to talk about this protocol.

Today we will know in detail what is Protocol? How many types of protocols are there? and how does the protocol work?

So without wasting any time, let us first know what the protocol is?

What is the protocol?

The literal meaning of protocol is a set of rules or rules or guidelines made for any work or thing. In today's online world, protocols have their own importance and are used in digital communication.

It is through the protocol that it is decided how data will be exchanged in the computer network. In computer language, a protocol is also called digital language. Without this, we cannot communicate with each other on the Internet or send data from one device to another.

Any file or e-mail sent by us over the Internet works only according to the rules of the protocol.

A protocol is a set of rules that govern the communication of data between different devices in a network. It allows devices connected in a network to communicate with each other despite internal and structural differences.

It provides instructions for formatting, transmitting, and receiving data so that devices located in a computer network from servers and routers to endpoints can communicate seamlessly.

We cannot even think of using the Internet without protocols because, without protocols, computers and other devices do not know how to connect with each other.

The protocol defines what is to be communicated, how it is to be communicated, and when it is to be communicated.

To successfully send and receive information between two or more computers in a network, the devices on both sides involved in the communication must accept and follow the protocol.

Definition of Protocol

Protocol is a set of rules that ensure the communication of data between different devices in the network. Protocols dictate how data will be exchanged across computer networks. Without protocols, we cannot communicate with each other on the Internet or send data from one device to another.

Types of Protocol

There are many types of protocols, some of the main protocols are as follows :

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
IP (Internet Protocol)
SMPT (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
Gopher
Ethernet
Telnet

Let us know one by one about these protocols used on the Internet.

1) Transmission Control Protocol

It is a communication protocol used to communicate over computer networks. Without TCP, any kind of communication on the Internet is impossible. It establishes a connection between two devices and allows the exchange of data.

In TCP, data is divided into small parts (packets). These small parts (packets) are then sent to their destination. And Internet Protocol is helpful in this process.

2) Internet Protocol or IP

Internet Protocol It always works with TCP. And it is the most used standard protocol.

Every computer on the Internet has a unique IP address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the Internet. When we send any data from our computer to another computer, it gets divided into many packets, each packet includes the IP addresses of the sender and receiver, due to which it helps in reaching the right destination. The Internet protocol makes sure that packets reach the correct address.

3) Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

This protocol is used to send and deliver outgoing e-mail. As soon as an e-mail is sent from one device to another e-mail ID, the e-mail is delivered to the recipient through the SMTP protocol.

4) File Transfer Protocol

It is a standard Internet protocol that allows users to exchange files from one computer to another. This includes program files, text files and multimedia files, etc. This method of file transfer is faster than HTTP and other protocols.

5) Hypertext Transfer Protocol

HTTP is one of the most common and known protocol examples used on the World Wide Web.

HTTP is an application-layer protocol used to transfer files over the Internet. Most data sharing on the web is done using HTTP.

It is based on client/server principles. It allows clients to establish connections to the server and make requests. But HTTP is a secure protocol when it has SSL-certified security.

HTTP is mostly used to exchange hypertext between two or more computers. Hypertext is text that is coded using a language called HTML.

6) Gopher

Gopher is a type of rule used to search, retrieve, and display documents from remote sites. Along with this, Gopher is also used to establish online connections with other computers. It also works on client/server principal

Gopher is an application layer protocol used to search and retrieve documents from remote sites. This is an old protocol and is not used much these days.

7) Ethernet

Ethernet is the most important protocol used for LAN communication. It exchanges information in digital packets. Every computer that uses this protocol must have an Ethernet network interface card (NIC). A unique address is embedded in this card. This address is used to identify the system.

8)Telnet

Telnet is a set of rules used to connect one computer to another. The process of this connection is called remote login.

The computer that is requesting the connection which is a local computer and the one that is accepting the connection which is a remote computer. If you give a command on a local computer, that command is executed on the remote computer. Telnet is also based on a client and server model.

Some other types of protocols :

ARP: Address Resolution Protocol
DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
IMAP: Internet Message Access Protocol
SIP: Session Intention Protocol
RTP: Real-time Transport Protocol
RLP: Radio Link Protocol
RAP: Root Access Protocol
L2TP: Layer Two Tunneling Protocol
PPTP : Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol
SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol
TFTP: Trivial File Transfer Protocol

History of Protocol and its inventors

The protocol was mainly created in the 1970s and 80s. The protocol was invented by two people named Vint Cerf and Robert E Kahn. Vint Cerf is also known as the father of the Internet and Vint Cerf was a pioneer in the field of Internet. Many awards have also been given for his contribution. Protocols like TCP/IP were developed by these two men.

What is the function of protocol?

We need protocols to communicate between computers. As you make a request to access a website or a web page on a web browser, the request goes to the server that hosts that website or web page.

Every website or web page on the Internet is hosted on some server, and when we make a request, it makes a request to that server. And since all web pages exist on a server and every web page is an HTML file. So the server sends an HTML file to the web browser using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

A valid connection between the server and the browser is established through the broadcast control protocol. When TCP establishes communication, it divides the HTML file into multiple packets. After that, an address is assigned to each packet.

Now after this, the work of IP protocol is to tell the user's 'Address' to the TCP protocol and TCP delivers this HTML file to the right place to its right user, and after all this work is done, the file is sent to the user in its parts. Before reaching the form, it becomes one by joining its true form and this is how the protocol works.

What is the use of protocol?

Data transfer is done through protocols only.
The format and structure of the data are determined by the protocol itself.
When any kind of error occurs, a message is sent through the protocol itself.
The transfer speed is determined by the protocol itself
It is through protocols that data is transferred from one device to another.
It is through protocols that the data is taken to the right place.

Advantages of Protocol

Because of the protocol, exchanging data has become a very easy task.
Tasks like conservation and installation have become very easy due to the protocols.
Due to the protocol, many devices can be connected together internationally and information can be exchanged between those devices, no matter which corner of the world that device is in.

Disadvantages of Protocol

Along with the advantages of the protocol, there are also some disadvantages like :

Devices can be connected internationally through the protocol, but if there are any flaws in its standard, it can also become an international problem.
Sometimes the protocol is also hacked by hackers due to which its users have to face a lot of difficulties.
Protocols are fixed standards and are followed by many people, hence if any new technology uses them then it has to face many difficulties.

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Conclusion

In today's article, we talked about Protocol and learned what is Protocol? How many types are there? and how does Protocol work?

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What is the protocol? Definition, Types, Functions

What is the protocol?

Definition of Protocol