The word protocol has been used several times in this section. Let’s now take a closer look at the meaning of this term. Protocols are the rules and standards governing the design of hardware and software that permit users of networks, which different vendors have manufactured, to communicate and share data. The general acceptance of protocols within the network community provides both standards and economic incentives for the manufacturers of hardware and software. Products that do not comply with prevailing protocols will have little value to prospective customers.