Protocols and standards on the web
![](/images/d/d7/Network.png)
In telecommunications, a communication protocol is a system of rules that allows two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity. These are the rules or standard that defines the syntax, semantics and synchronization of communication and possible error recovery methods. Protocols may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of both.
Communicating systems use well-defined formats (protocol) for exchanging messages. Each message has an exact meaning intended to elicit a response from a range of possible responses pre-determined for that particular situation. [2]
Network protocols[edit]
This video is very technical, but one of the best I could find about network protocols. It may be helpful to review the OSI model prior to watching this.
IP protocol[edit]
- What is the IP protocol: Click here to watch a video
TCP protocol[edit]
- What is the TCP protocol: Click here to watch a video
- Please watch this part 2: part 2 of TCP
Explain the importance of protocols[edit]
Without protocols and standards we wouldn't be able to achieve interoperability. That is, if my website used a totally different protocol for storing data (non-html) your browser would not be able to parse it, and you as a user wouldn't be able to understand it.
Protocols are important because they:
- Ensure data integrity (overall completeness, accuracy and consistency of data[3])
- Regulate flow control (In data communications, flow control is the process of managing the rate of data transmission between two nodes to prevent a fast sender from overwhelming a slow receiver.[4])
- Manage deadlock (A condition that occurs when two processes are each waiting for the other to complete before proceeding [5])
- Manage congestion (Network congestion in data networking is the reduced quality of service that occurs when a network node or link is carrying more data than it can handle.[6])
- Manage error checking (techniques that enable reliable delivery of digital data over unreliable communication channels.[7])
Why standards are important[edit]
Value of Creating Standards at W3C[8] W3C continues to evolve to provide the community a productive environment for creating Web standards. W3C standards:
- are created following a consensus-based decision process;
- consider aspects of accessibility, privacy, security, and internationalization;
- reflect the views of diverse industries and global stakeholders;
- balance speed, fairness, public accountability, and quality;
- benefit from Royalty-Free patent licensing commitments from participants;
- are stable (and W3C seeks to ensure their persistence at the published URI);
- benefit from wide review from groups inside and outside W3C;
- are downloadable at no cost;
- are maintained in a predictable fashion;
- are strengthened through interoperability testing;
Do you understand this topic?[edit]
You should be able to:
- Define protocol
- Explain the importance of networking protocols
- Explain the importance of standards on the web
Do you have an advanced understanding about this topic?[edit]
- Define data integrity
- Define source integrity
- Define flow control
- Define deadlock
- Define congestion management
- Define error correction
- Define error checking
See Also[edit]
Standards[edit]
These standards are used from the IB Computer Science Subject Guide[9]
- Explain the importance of protocols and standards on the web.
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.flaticon.com/
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_protocol
- ↑ https://www.techopedia.com/definition/27858/data-integrity-networking
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_control_(data)
- ↑ https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/deadlock.html
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_congestion
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Error_detection_and_correction
- ↑ https://www.w3.org/standards/about.html
- ↑ IB Diploma Programme Computer science guide (first examinations 2014). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization. January 2012.