Packet

=Packet= Author:Acacia Blanco

A packet is the fundamental unit of information transmitted on a network. Essentially, it is a collection of data that travels along the Internet to reach a destination, be it another computer or a website. All computers use them for every ingoing and outgoing command or message on the Internet. Imagine the packet as a truck with the, say, email you are sending being the package inside it. The address of this package of data resides in the header of the packet, which includes your IP address, the destination's IP address, and the packet number, since many requests such as emails come in a series of packets, so 1, 2, 3, etc. The router will look at these addresses and send it into the right direction. It then travels along the Internet to reach its destination. A standard packet usually holds 1000-1500 bytes, or 1KB-1.5KB, but some come in different lengths while others have fixed lengths. The packets have to follow certain Internet protocols like the Transmission Control Protocol and the Internet Protocol. Packets can also go by other names depending on the network you are using, such as cell, frame, block, or segment. packets can also use detours on the Internet to ensure the message is sent, even if there is a problem, because packets will take the most available route, without taking into account the number of other packets on that route.

References: