What Does Data Packet Mean?
A packet is a data unit made into a single package traveling along a network path. Data packets are used in Internet Protocol (IP) transmissions for data that navigate the Web and other networks.
Data Packet Explanation
A data packet has other parts besides the raw data it contains – often referred to as the payload. Data packets also have headers with certain types of metadata and routing information. For example, IP data packets have a header containing an IP address of origin and destination IP address. Data packets also may have trailers that help refine data transmission.
Various groups have contributed to consistent standards for data packet transmission to provide more conventional data packet use for the Web and other networks. For example, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) put together the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which identifies particular data packet layers and maintains standards for each. This is the foundation of the modern makeup and use of data packets in diverse network scenarios.
