Network Protocols Glossary
What is a network protocol? Protocols are the rules of the road for how data exists and moves on the network. They allow many different systems and computers to communicate.
Constrained Application Protocol
What is Constrained Application Protocol?
Constrained Application Protocol is a specialized web transfer protocol designed specifically for nodes and networks with very limited compute, memory, or battery resources - such as those found in the Internet of Things (IoT). CoAP is the protocol of choice when you need to connect a vast number of resource-constrained devices to the internet while ensuring efficient and reliable communication.
What is the purpose of CoAP
Traditional protocols like HTTP, while robust for web applications, are often too heavy for IoT devices. CoAP addresses these constraints by offering:
- Lightweight header: Reducing overhead and minimizing data transmission.
- UDP-based: Using UDP instead of TCP, which is less resource-intensive.
- Asynchronous message exchange: Allowing for efficient communication in unreliable networks.
- Security: Built-in support for DTLS, ensuring secure data transmission.