Packets

Question 1

What are data packets?

Answer 1

• Files that are broken down into smaller parts when sending data across a network.

Question 2

Why use data packets?

Answer 2

• Whole files are too large to transfer as one unit so data packets allow data to be transferred across a network quickly.

Question 3

How do data packets work?

Answer 3

• Each packet of data is redirected by routers across networks until it arrives at its destination.
• Data packets may split up and use alternative routes to reach the destination address.
• When all the packets have arrived at the destination address, the data is re-assembled back into the original file.

Question 4

Contents of a data packet:

Answer 4

In the header:
- Source Address
- Destination Address
- Packet Number
- Protocol
In the payload:
- The data itself
In the trailer:
- A checksum which is a calculation on the data to see if any errors or corruption have occurred during transmission.