Message Protocol
Noun · Development
Definitions
A set of rules governing how messages are framed, sequenced, acknowledged, and error-handled between communicating parties. Encompasses both the wire format and the behavioral contract — request/response patterns, connection lifecycle, versioning, and flow control. Examples include AMQP, MQTT, STOMP, and WebSocket subprotocols.
In plain English: The complete set of rules for how two systems exchange messages, covering not just the data format but also ordering, acknowledgment, and error handling.
Example: "MQTT's message protocol supports three QoS levels — fire-and-forget, at-least-once, and exactly-once delivery."