The process that wraps protocol information from one layer to another is known as what?

The process that wraps protocol information from one layer to another is referred to as encapsulation. In networking, encapsulation is essential for the proper transmission of data between different layers of the OSI model. When data is sent from one device to another, it is formatted according to the rules of the specific layer. Each layer adds its own header (and potentially a trailer) to the data, encapsulating the information from the upper layers so it can be understood by the lower layers.

For instance, when you send an email, the application layer prepares the message and adds an application protocol header. This is then passed down to the transport layer, where a transport protocol header is added. This process continues down through the network layers until the data is transmitted over the physical medium.

Understanding encapsulation is critical for professionals involved in networking as it helps them to troubleshoot issues related to data transmission, analyze how data flows through networks, and design protocols that ensure data integrity and confidentiality.