Definition of a Frame
A frame is a digital data transmission unit in computer networking and telecommunication. In packet switched systems, a frame is a container for a network packet. In other telecommunications systems, a frame supports time-division multiplexing. A frame typically includes synchronization features indicating the beginning and end of payload data.
Frames in Different Contexts
- HTML Frames
HTML frames divide the browser window into sections that load separate documents. The frameset tag defines frames in rows or columns.
- Frames in Artificial Intelligence
In artificial intelligence, frames derive from semantic nets to divide knowledge into substructures representing stereotyped situations.
Frames in Networking
In the OSI networking model, a frame is the protocol data unit at the data link layer. In Ethernet, it includes an Ethernet packet payload.
Usage of Frames
Frames are used for several reasons:
- In computer networking and telecommunication, frames contain and transmit packets of digital data.
- Frames have features indicating the start and end of data payload.
- In packet switched systems, frames support and enable network communication.
- In other systems, frames allow time-division multiplexing of data streams.
Frame Set Example
The FRAMESET element divides a window into rectangular subspaces called frames. For example, a frameset defined with ROWS="3*,*" will have its first row three times the height of the second row.