Data Packet

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Depending on the type of network, packets may be referred to by another name:

• frame
• block
• cell
• segment

Most packets are split into three parts:

• header - The header contains instructions about the data carried by the packet. These instructions may include:
  • Length of packet (some networks have fixed-length packets, while others rely on the header to contain this information)
  • Synchronization (a few bits that help the packet match up to the network)
  • Packet number (which packet this is in a sequence of packets)
  • Protocol (on networks that carry multiple types of information, the protocol defines what type of packet is being transmitted: e-mail, Web page, streaming video)
  • Destination address (where the packet is going)
  • Originating address (where the packet came from)