A unit of data made into a single package that travels along a given network path
Structure of a network packet
Header
Payload
Trailer
Header
Contains instructions about the data carried by the packet, including length, synchronisation, packet number, protocol, destination address, and originating address
Payload
The actual data that the packet is delivering to the destination, also called the body or data of a packet
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
A technique used to detect errors in digital data, producing a fixed-length data set based on the build of a file or larger dataset
CRC
Has a hash function that deletes accidental changes to raw computer data, commonly used in digital telecommunications networks and storage-devices
Packet Switching
The transfer of small pieces of data (packets) across various networks
Packet Loss
When packets bounce from router to router before reaching their destinated IP address, leading to poor network performance
3. Inefficiency or failure of a component carrying data across a network
4. High Latency
5. Spacing of packets being delivered resulting in timing issues
6. Damaged or slow cables
Network Collision Detection
When two sets of data are transmitted on the network simultaneously, the network detects the error and each computer waits a random amount of time then tries to send the packet again
