What is a network protocol? Network Protocol – Understanding the Basics

Network Protocol – Understanding the Basics

A network protocol refers to a set of standard communication rules that allows two or more network devices (Farinacci (2015)). This is the language that allows devices to communicate and to agree on data transfer or receipt.  It is used by network protocols in local area networks, wide-area networks (WANs), and the Internet. Ethernet, Transmission Control Protocol, (TCP), Internet Protocol, IPv4, IPv6, File Transfer Protocol, (FTP), Secure Shell, SSH, and Network File System are some examples of commonly used communication protocols (Reilly, 2021).  All aspects of communication are covered by network protocols. These include data format, timing and sequencing as well as error control and flow control. The protocols can be built upon top of layers of protocol components. Layered structures allow for the addition or modification of protocol components while not affecting the rest (Liswan 2021).  The network protocol is a means of enabling communication between two parties when data are being transmitted or received over the network.  .Cont…