Network Protocol

A set of rules that define how data is transmitted over a network.

A network protocol is a set of rules and conventions that govern how data is formatted, transmitted, and received across a computer network. Protocols define the syntax, semantics, and synchronization of communication, ensuring that different devices and software can exchange information reliably.

Network protocols operate at different layers of the OSI model. Low-level protocols like TCP and UDP handle reliable data transport, while higher-level protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, and gRPC define application-level communication. DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses, and TLS provides encryption for secure communication.

In API development, HTTP and HTTPS are the most commonly used protocols. API gateways primarily operate at the application layer (Layer 7), inspecting HTTP headers, paths, and bodies to make routing and policy decisions. Some gateways also support WebSocket connections for real-time communication and gRPC for high-performance service-to-service communication. Understanding the underlying protocols is essential for diagnosing connectivity issues and optimizing API performance.