Protocols
What is a protocol?
Can you imagine a world where people could only speak their own native language? How would we communicate for trade, travel and international treaties? In order to communicate, we need to be able to understand each other.
Computers are the same. When two computers communicate across a network they need a set of rules to be able to 'talk' to each other. This set of rules is known as a protocol. This allows lots of manufacturers to make hardware, devices and operating systems that can communicate with one another.
| Protocol | Use |
| File聽Transfer聽Protocol (FTP) | FTP is used to transfer files between clients and servers on a network. It is often used for uploading and downloading files to and from web servers. |
| HyperText Transfer Protocol / Hypertext聽Transfer聽Protocol聽Secure (HTTP/HTTPS) | HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands. For examlple, you will often see a 404 or Not Found error message when you click on a link and the page or file no longer exists or has been moved. HTTPS provides encryption within the Transport Layer Security (TSL) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). HTTPS can authenticate the visited website and protect the privacy of any data exchanged between the user and the website. |
| Transmission聽Control聽Protocol聽/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) | TCP/IP is a set of rules used to connect devices on the internet. It dictates how data is formatted and how the data is routed through the network. |
| Protocol | File聽Transfer聽Protocol (FTP) |
|---|---|
| Use | FTP is used to transfer files between clients and servers on a network. It is often used for uploading and downloading files to and from web servers. |
| Protocol | HyperText Transfer Protocol / Hypertext聽Transfer聽Protocol聽Secure (HTTP/HTTPS) |
|---|---|
| Use | HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands. For examlple, you will often see a 404 or Not Found error message when you click on a link and the page or file no longer exists or has been moved. HTTPS provides encryption within the Transport Layer Security (TSL) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). HTTPS can authenticate the visited website and protect the privacy of any data exchanged between the user and the website. |
| Protocol | Transmission聽Control聽Protocol聽/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) |
|---|---|
| Use | TCP/IP is a set of rules used to connect devices on the internet. It dictates how data is formatted and how the data is routed through the network. |