Http Packets

For networking purposes, a packet is a formatted block of data carried by a packet carrying network. A packet is a block of data with length that can vary between successive packets, ranging from 7 to 65,542 bytes. As opposed to a non packet network where information is transmitted in bits and bytes, data is formatted into a packet. This allows the network to transmit long messages in a more effective manner. HTTP packets are most commonly used for purposes relating to transferring information on the internet.

A packet is composed of control information and user data. The control information of the packet is what is used to determine the networking information. A typical packet’s control information will include source and destination addresses, error detection codes, and sequencing information. The control information in a packet is usually located in a packet’s header or trailer section of information. As far as error detection is concerned, it has been proven to be more efficient and reliable to check for a checksum or cyclic redundancy over the contents of a packet.