Difference between PACKETS and FRAMES

Question

Two words commonly used in networking world - Packets and frames.

Can anyone please give the detail difference between these two words?

Hope it might sounds sill

Answer 1

Actually, there are five words commonly used when we talk about layers of reference models (or protocol stacks): data, segment, packet, frame and bit. And the term PDU (Protocol Data Unit) is used to refer to the packets in different layers of the OSI model. Thus PDU gives an abstract idea of the data packets. The PDU has a different meaning in different layers still we can use it as a common term.

When we come to your question, we can call all of them by using the general term PDU, but if you want to call them specifically at a given layer:

• Data: PDU of Application, Presentation and Session Layers
• Segment: PDU of Transport Layer
• Packet: PDU of network Layer
• Frame: PDU of data-link Layer
• Bit: PDU of physical Layer

Here is a diagram, since a picture is worth a thousand words: