A protocol is a set of rules that define how data is transmitted, formatted, and processed in a network.

Elaboration:

• Ensures reliable communication between different devices.
• Common networking protocols include:
  • TCP/IP – Core internet communication protocol.
  • HTTP/HTTPS – Web browsing protocols.
  • DNS – Resolves domain names to IP addresses.

Example:

When you send an email, protocols like SMTP (sending), IMAP (retrieving), and POP3 handle the process.