Internet Communication Protocols

Internet Communication Protocols are the standardized rule sets that govern how computers exchange data over the Internet and other computer networks, each protocol defining the syntax, semantics, and error handling a sender and receiver must follow before any application built on top of it can interoperate. This group gathers protocols purpose built for a specific class of network communication: the Hypertext Transfer Protocol structures the request and response exchanges that deliver hypertext documents across the World Wide Web; the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol governs how mail servers relay electronic mail between message transfer agents; the File Transfer Protocol defines a client server model for moving computer files over a network, authenticated by a plain text sign in or run anonymously; and the Secure Shell Protocol establishes a cryptographic channel for operating network services, most notably remote login and command line execution, over an otherwise unsecured network. Each is a standardized, named protocol governing a distinct communication task rather than a general purpose technology, which is what distinguishes this group from broader security or software classes.