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Packet

Computer networks divide the data into blocks or junks called packets.
These blocks are helpful for error detection.

Problem with Sharing

There are many computers connected to a network and some applications require a lot of data transfer which takes a lot of time.
Hence, it causes other applications to wait but some applications cannot wait for long periods of time.

Solution for Fairness

To solve the above mentioned problem, the data is divided into packets and then each computer takes turns to send the data over the shared network.
This way, no computer has to experience delays.

Packet and Time Division Multiplexing

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Packet and Frames

Packet

A packets is a generic term. Each hardware uses different formats of packets.

Frames

A frame is defined to be a specific packets format for a specific hardware technology.
To define this standard, we attach a start and a tail header to the frame.

Problems

Frames also have some problems in transmission: 1. Missing the end-of-tail means computer has crashed. 2. Missing the start-of-head means computer missed beginning of the message. 3. Bad frame is discarded.