A Protocol is an established set of rules that govern how devices exchange information within a network quickly and reliably. In other words, network protocols can be equated to a common language for two devices that enable them to have seamless communication, similar to how two people from different regions of the world may not understand each other’s native language but can still communicate using a ‘shared’ third language.
Protocols are often classified based on the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model layer they belong to. Some of the most important protocols used on the internet are :
* HTTP : The HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an application layer protocol that provides the foundation for the World Wide Web.
* TCP : The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a transport layer protocol used with IP and often referenced together as TCP/IP.
* TLS/SSL : Transport Layer Security is used for encryption and previously called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
