In
computing and
telecommunications, the payload is the part of
transmitted data that is the actual intended message.
Headers and
metadata
Metadata is "data that provides information about other data", but not the content of the data, such as the text of a message or the image itself. There are many distinct types of metadata, including:
* Descriptive metadata – the descriptive ...
are sent only to enable payload delivery.
In the context of a
computer virus
A computer virus is a type of computer program that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code. If this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be "infected" with a compu ...
or
worm, the payload is the portion of the malware which performs malicious action.
The term is borrowed from
transportation, where ''
payload
Payload is the object or the entity which is being carried by an aircraft or launch vehicle. Sometimes payload also refers to the carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight. Depending on the nature of ...
'' refers to the part of the load that ''pays'' for transportation.
Networking
In
computer networking, data to be transmitted is the payload. It is almost always
encapsulated in some type of
frame format, composed of
framing bits
In telecommunication, frame synchronization or framing is the process by which, while receiving a stream of framed data, incoming frame alignment signals (i.e., a distinctive bit sequences or syncwords) are identified (that is, distinguished from ...
and a
frame check sequence. Examples are
Ethernet frames,
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frames,
Fibre Channel frames, and
V.42 modem frames.
Programming
In
computer programming, the most common usage of the term is in the context of message protocols, to differentiate the
protocol overhead from the actual data. For example, a
JSON
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation, pronounced ; also ) is an open standard file format and data interchange format that uses human-readable text to store and transmit data objects consisting of attribute–value pairs and arrays (or other ser ...
web service response might be:
The string ''Hello, world!'' is the payload of JSON message, while the rest is protocol overhead.
Security
In
computer security, the payload is the part of the private user text which could also contain
malware
Malware (a portmanteau for ''malicious software'') is any software intentionally designed to cause disruption to a computer, server, client, or computer network, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, depri ...
such as
worms or
viruses which performs the malicious action; deleting data, sending spam or encrypting data.
In addition to the payload, such malware also typically has overhead code aimed at simply spreading itself, or avoiding detection.
See also
*
*
References
{{Reflist
Data transmission
Computer security exploits