Packet payload

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which part of a packet carries the actual data being sent?

A The header

B The payload

2. What does the payload of a packet contain?

A A piece of the file or message being sent

B The destination address and packet number

3. Is the packet header part of the payload?

A No, the header is not payload

B Yes, the header is part of the payload

4. A 5 MB photo is split into packets. What does the payload of one packet hold?

A A small piece of the photo's data

B The whole photo every time

5. Which of these is NOT payload?

A A piece of an email message

B The packet trailer

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1payload		APacket 3: payload = "Hello, how are"
2payload = piece of file		BA payload holds only a small piece of the file. A large file is split across many packets, each with its own payload.
3The payload is the actual data, such as part of an email, carried inside one packet		CThe part of a packet that carries the actual data being sent
4The header and trailer are not the payload because they only help deliver the packet		Dheader: dest=192.168.1.5, packet no=3 \| payload: data
5payload = destination IP address and packet number		EThe destination address and packet number belong in the header, not the payload. The payload is the actual data being sent.
6payload = the whole 5 MB file in one packet		FThe payload holds just one piece of a larger file or message, not the whole thing

Definitions

payload

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

packet = header + _______ + trailer

_______ = "piece of a file"

OUTPUT packet._______

headerIsPayload = _____

packet = header + payload + _______

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A payload ← destination address

B header ← destination, number

C trailer ← end of packet

Question 2

A SET payload TO dest_address

B SET header TO addresses

C SET trailer TO end_marker

Question 3

A packet.header = dest, src, no

B packet.payload = 'Hel'

C packet.trailer = file_data

Question 4

A PACKET 3 OF 10

B PAYLOAD = packet number 3

C HEADER = dest, source, number

D TRAILER = end of packet

Question 5

A IF packet arrives THEN

B read header

C read payload

D store trailer in the file

E ENDIF

Answer Key

Packet payload

Section A: Quick Questions

B — The payload

A — A piece of the file or message being sent

A — No, the header is not payload

A — A small piece of the photo's data

B — The packet trailer

Section B: Match the Pairs

payload → The part of a packet that carries the actual data being sent

payload = piece of file → The payload holds just one piece of a larger file or message, not the whole thing

The payload is the actual data, such as part of an email, carried inside one packet → Packet 3: payload = "Hello, how are"

The header and trailer are not the payload because they only help deliver the packet → header: dest=192.168.1.5, packet no=3 | payload: data

payload = destination IP address and packet number → The destination address and packet number belong in the header, not the payload. The payload is the actual data being sent.

payload = the whole 5 MB file in one packet → A payload holds only a small piece of the file. A large file is split across many packets, each with its own payload.

Section C: Definitions

payload — The part of a packet that carries the actual data being sent, such as a piece of a file or message. The header and trailer are not payload.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

packet = header + payload + trailer

payload = "piece of a file"

OUTPUT packet.payload

headerIsPayload = False

packet = header + payload + trailer

Section E: Spot the Error

A — The payload carries a piece of the actual file or message. The destination address belongs in the header, so this line should be: payload ← piece of the file.

A — The payload holds the data being sent, such as a part of a file. Addresses are in the header, so this line should be: SET payload TO file_part.

C — The trailer only marks the end of the packet. The file data is carried in the payload, so this line should be: packet.trailer = end_marker.

B — The packet number is stored in the header. The payload carries part of the message, so this line should be: PAYLOAD = part of the message.

D — The file is rebuilt from the payloads. The trailer is not file data, so this line should be: store payload in the file.