ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Current Protocols

Current protocols are sets of rules that control how computers communicate with each other. Imagine you want to talk to a friend on the phone, but you don't speak the same language. In order to have a conversation, you need to agree on a set of words and phrases that you both understand. Current protocols are like that set of agreed-upon words and phrases that computers use to have a conversation with each other.

Just like humans have different languages, there are different types of protocols that computers can use. Some of the most common protocols are HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), which is used to access and view web pages, and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), which is used to send and receive email.

These protocols work by sending packets of data from one computer to another. Each packet has a specific format and contains information about where it came from, where it's going, and what it contains. When a computer receives a packet, it checks the header information to determine which protocol it's using, and then follows the rules set out in that protocol to interpret the contents of the packet.

Overall, current protocols are incredibly important for allowing computers to communicate with each other in a standard, predictable way. Without them, it would be much harder for different computers and devices to work together effectively.