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Networking Beginner

What is Network Packet?

A formatted unit of data carried over a network, containing headers with routing information and a payload with the actual data.

Network packets are the fundamental units of data transmission. Each packet contains headers and a payload. Ethernet frames wrap IP packets which wrap TCP/UDP segments which carry application data. Headers include source/destination addresses, protocol identifiers, sequence numbers, and checksums for error detection. Maximum packet size is governed by MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) — typically 1500 bytes for Ethernet. Large data is split into multiple packets, transmitted independently (potentially via different routes), and reassembled at the destination. Tools like tcpdump and Wireshark capture and analyze individual packets for troubleshooting.

Related Terms

Bandwidth
The maximum rate of data transfer across a network connection, measured in bits per second.
DNS (Domain Name System)
A hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)
A protocol that maps IP addresses to physical MAC addresses on a local network segment.
OSI Model
The seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection model that standardizes network communication functions from physical transmission to application protocols.
Token Bucket Algorithm
A rate limiting algorithm that allows burst traffic by accumulating tokens at a fixed rate and consuming them per request.
DHCP
A protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and network configuration to devices on a network.
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