Key Network Protocols for GCSE

What is a Protocol?

• Definition: A set of rules allowing two devices to communicate.
• Analogy: Like a bilingual person enabling communication between a German speaker and an English speaker.

Internet Protocols

• Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
  • Provides error-free data transmission between routers.
• Internet Protocol (IP)
  • Routes packets across a wide area network.
• TCP-IP Protocol Stack
  • Foundation of all internet communication.

Web Protocols

• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
  • Allows client-server communication for HTML web pages.
  • Visible in web addresses.
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
  • Similar to HTTP but includes encryption for secure data transmission.
  • Used for sensitive information (e.g., passwords, credit card data).

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

• Purpose: Transfers files between computers on a wide area network.
• Usage: Common commands can be run from the command line or through FTP clients.

Email Protocols

• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
  • Sends emails from a device to an email server.
• Post Office Protocol (POP)
  • Used by mail clients to retrieve emails and removes originals from the server.
• Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
  • Similar to POP but retains the original email on the server.
  • Ensures emails are accessible from multiple devices without sync issues.

Recap

• Summary of protocols and their functions.
• Important for understanding communication over networks.