A protocol stack (sometimes communications stack) is a particular software implementation of a
computer networking protocol suite. The terms are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, the suite is the definition of the protocols, and the stack is the software implementation of them.Individual
protocols within a suite are often designed with a single purpose in mind. This
modularization makes design and evaluation easier. Because each protocol module usually communicates with two others, they are commonly imagined as layers in a stack of protocols. The lowest protocol always deals with "low-level", physical interaction of the hardware. Every higher layer adds more features. User applications usually deal only with the topmost layers (See also
OSI model).
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<
protocol> A layered set of
protocols which work together to provide a set of network functions. Each intermediate
protocol layer uses the layer below it to provide a service to the layer above.
The
OSI seven layer model is an attempt to provide a standard framework within which to describe protocol stacks.
(1997-12-07)
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