Communications protocol

A communications protocol is a set of rules and conventions that govern the exchange of information between systems or devices. It dictates the format, sequencing, timing, and error checking for data transmission, thus ensuring that various entities can communicate effectively with as few errors as possible. More plainly, communications protocols are like translators for devices that allow them to understand one another's languages.

Protocols can operate at different layers of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, a seven-layer conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of communications systems. Common examples of communication protocols include HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol), and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The first two are used for data transfer over the Internet, and the third is utilized in e-mail communication.

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