What is a network protocol?

A network protocol is fundamentally a set of rules and conventions that dictate how data is transmitted and received over a network. These protocols ensure that devices within a network can communicate effectively, enabling seamless data transfer between different systems, regardless of their underlying architectures.

Protocols define various aspects of communication, including the syntax, semantics, and synchronization of communication, as well as error handling and data compression. A few notable examples of network protocols include Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Protocol (IP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

While other choices refer to different aspects of computing—such as antivirus software, software installation processes, or types of hardware—they do not encompass the concept of a network protocol. Instead, they either focus on security measures, software management, or physical networking components, none of which pertain directly to the rules that govern data exchange in a network context. This distinction reinforces the defining characteristics of what constitutes a network protocol.