Cambridge O Level Computer Science · Syllabus 2210 · Data Transmission
Packet Header
What is Packet Header?
The packet header is the part of a packet that carries the control information for its journey: the destination address, the packet number and the originator's address.
This definition is part of the Data Transmission chapter in Cambridge O Level Computer Science.
Packet Header in context
A packet of data contains a packet header, a payload and a trailer. The packet header includes the destination address, the packet number and the originator's address. The payload is the part of the data being transmitted that this packet is carrying. The trailer is the information at the end of the packet; depending on the protocol in use it may contain error-checking information and a marker showing that the end of the packet has been reached.