AP® Cybersecurity glossary
Packet
A small unit of data sent across a network, made of headers (addresses and control information) and a payload (the data).
Appears in the course and exam description (CED): 3.4.A.23.4.A.43.5.E.7
Why it matters in Unit 3
Firewalls filter packets on their header fields, next-generation firewalls inspect payloads, and analysts look for indicators of compromise in packet captures.
Example
A web request is split into numbered packets. Each internet protocol (IP) header carries the source and destination IP addresses and the protocol; the transmission control protocol (TCP) header carries the ports.
Learn it properly, with a checkpoint Networks: hosts, packets and the devices that move them