Difference between revisions of "Data Packet"
From Internet User Guide
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| − | A Data Packet is a formatted block of data sent across a [[ | + | A Data Packet is a formatted block of data sent across a [[computer network]]. |
==Packet Header== | ==Packet Header== | ||
| − | Each individual | + | Each individual data packet includes a packet header, containing information on the packet's destination, thereby informing the [[node]]s where to send the data packet. The header includes the following information about the packet's destination: |
| − | *The [[IP | + | *The [[IP address]] number, which identifies the [[computer]] the data is to be sent to |
| − | *The [[ | + | *The [[port]] number, which identifies a particular [[process]] running on the destination Computer |
| − | The computer's [[IP | + | The computer's [[IP address]] is like the street address of an apartment building, while the [[port]] number is like the number of a particular apartment within the building. |
| − | The [[IP | + | The [[IP address]] and the [[port]] number together make up an [[internet socket]], which is one of the end-points of a two-way communication flow between specific application processes running on two different devices connected to the Internet. |
==Packet Forwarding and Packet Routing== | ==Packet Forwarding and Packet Routing== | ||
| − | Data Packets are [[Packet | + | Data Packets are [[Packet forwarding|forwarded]] from one [[network segment]] to another by [[node]]s, and [[Packet routing|routed]] to their final destinations. |
| − | [[Packet | + | [[Packet forwarding]] takes place just from one [[Node]] to the next, while [[Packet routing]] selects the path of links over which to send the packet towards its final destination. |
Packet Forwarding is handled at lower [[Network Layer]]s, while Packet Routing involves higher Network Layers. Forwarding and routing are generally described in terms of one or the other of the two standard [[Network protocol]]s: the [[Internet Protocol]] or the older [[OSI Protocols]]. | Packet Forwarding is handled at lower [[Network Layer]]s, while Packet Routing involves higher Network Layers. Forwarding and routing are generally described in terms of one or the other of the two standard [[Network protocol]]s: the [[Internet Protocol]] or the older [[OSI Protocols]]. | ||
