Internet protocols
The communication rules that run the internet.
5-mark Exam Answer
Internet protocols are the rules and standards that govern data transfer on the Internet. The core protocol is TCP/IP, which is divided into four layers, with the Application Layer containing the protocols most visible to e-commerce users.
- 1.Protocol = rules for data transfer
- 2.TCP/IP = core communications protocol
- 3.Four layers: Network Interface, Internet, Transport, Application
- 4.Application protocols: HTTP, SMTP, FTP, POP3, IMAP, Telnet, SSL/TLS
- 5.SSL/TLS secures e-commerce communications
A protocol is a set of rules and standards for data transfer, governing the formatting, ordering, compressing, and error-checking of messages. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the core communications protocol for the Internet. TCP establishes connections among sending and receiving computers; IP provides the Internet's addressing scheme and delivers packets.
TCP/IP is divided into four layers. The Network Interface Layer places packets on and receives them from the network medium. The Internet Layer addresses, packages, and routes messages. The Transport Layer provides communication with other protocols by acknowledging and sequencing packets. The Application Layer includes a variety of protocols used to provide user services or exchange data.
Key Application Layer protocols include HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the Internet protocol used to transfer web pages; Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), used to send e-mail to a server; Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), used to retrieve mail; File Transfer Protocol (FTP), which transfers files between server and client; and Telnet, which allows remote login on another computer.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) operate between the Transport and Application Layers and secure communications between the client and the server. SSL/TLS helps secure e-commerce communications and payments through techniques such as message encryption and digital signatures.
When you visit https://www.example.com, HTTPS (HTTP over SSL/TLS) loads the secure web page; SMTP later delivers your order confirmation by email; FTP may be used by the merchant to upload product images.
Internet protocols — organized through the four-layer TCP/IP architecture — provide the communication rules that make e-commerce possible, with SSL/TLS securing the most sensitive transactions.
The exam interface follows the university paper pattern: Section A & B carry 5-mark questions; Section C carries objective questions.