In computer networking, the term upper layer protocol refers to a more abstract protocol when performing encapsulation, in particular it is often used to describe the protocols above the network layer.
In discussions of the Internet Protocol Suite, the term upper layer protocols usually refers to the protocols above the Internet Layer (e.g. Transmission Control Protocol, which is in the Transport Layer). In the internet protocol suite, IP is the lower layer protocol to UDP and TCP; likewise UDP and TCP are two upper layer protocols for IP.
The term contrasts with lower layer protocol which refers to a more specific protocol.
Famous quotes containing the words upper and/or layer:
“You doubt we read the stars on high,
Nathless we read your fortunes true;
The stars may hide in the upper sky,
But without glass we fathom you.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“This world is run by people who know how to do things. They know how things work. They are equipped. Up there, there’s a layer of people who run everything. But we—we’re just peasants. We don’t understand what’s going on, and we can’t do anything.”
—Doris Lessing (b. 1919)