net tech

Encapsulation

A process of adding headers and trailers to a data payload to form a new datagram.

Decapsulation

The reverse process of encapsulation; removing the header and tail of a packet to obtain the data payload.

Data Payload

The information to be transmitted, considered the core content of a packet.

Packet

A data unit that is exchanged and transmitted on a network, formatted as header + data payload + tail.

Header

An information segment added before the data payload during packet assembly.

Tail

An information segment added after the payload in a packet to facilitate information transmission.

Protocol Data Unit (PDU)

A specific block of information transferred over a network, referenced in the OSI model.

Physical Layer

Transmits raw bits (1s or 0s) physically via hardware.

Network Layer

Transmits a packet that contains the source and destination address.

Transport Layer

Transmits a segment that includes a TCP header and data.