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Interface vs Protocol - What's the difference?

interface | protocol |

In computing terms the difference between interface and protocol

is that interface is the connection between a user and a machine while protocol is a set of formal rules describing how to transmit or exchange data, especially across a network.

As nouns the difference between interface and protocol

is that interface is the point of interconnection between entities while protocol is the minutes, or official record, of a negotiation or transaction; especially a document drawn up officially which forms the legal basis for subsequent agreements based on it.

As verbs the difference between interface and protocol

is that interface is to construct an interface for, to connect through an interface while protocol is to make a protocol of.

interface

English

(wikipedia interface)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The point of interconnection between entities.
    • Public relations firms often serve as the interface between a company and the press.
  • (chemistry, physics) A thin layer or boundary between different substances or two phases of a single substance.
    • If water and oil are mixed together, they tend to separate, and at equilibrium they are in different strata with an oil-water interface in between.
    The surface of a lake is a water-air interface .
  • (computing) The point of interconnection between systems or subsystems.
    • The data is sent over the air interface to the remote system.
  • (computing) The connection between a user and a machine.
    • The options are selected via the user interface .
  • (computing, object-oriented) The connection between parts of software.
    • This interface is implemented by several Java classes.
  • (computing, object-oriented) In object-oriented programming, a piece of code defining a set of operations that other code must implement.
    • The Audio and Video classes both implement the IPlayable interface .

    Derived terms

    * abstract interface * generic interface * marker interface * network interface * user interface

    Verb

    (interfac)
  • to construct an interface for, to connect through an interface
  • to be an interface, to be into an interface

    • protocol

    English

    (wikipedia protocol)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • * 1842 , Thomas Campbell, Frederick the Great and his Times , vol. II, p. 47:
    • Another account says that, on the morning of the 31st of May, the king delivered to the prince-royal the crown, the sceptre, and the key of his treasure and gave him his blessing. The privy-counsillor Vockerodt drew up at his desire a protocol of the transaction.
  • * 1970 , Matthew Smith Anderson, The Great Powers and the Near East, 1774-1923 , p. 32:
    • The terms of this protocol formed the basis for the Treaty of London signed by the British, French and Russian governments on 6 July 1827.
  • (international law) An amendment to an official treaty.
  • * 2002 , Philippe Sands, Principles of International Environmental Law , p. 917 n. 253:
    • The 1992 Protocol amended the definitions of other terms, including ‘ship’, ‘oil’ and ‘incident’: Art. 2.
  • The first leaf of a roll of papyrus, or the official mark typically found on such a page.
  • * 1991 , Leila Avrin, Scribes, Script, and Books , p. 146:
    • They marked the beginning of each scroll with their protocol''''', a practice that continued in the papyrus trade in the Byzantine Empire [...] into the Islamic period, when there were bilingual ' protocols in Greek and Arabic.
  • The official formulas which appeared at the beginning or end of certain official documents such as charters, papal bulls etc.
  • * 1985 , Archivum Historiae Pontificiae , v. 23, p. 14:
    • The protocol of the bull contains elements that appear to be formulaic by the time of John XVIII 's pontificate.
  • (sciences) The original notes of observations made during an experiment; also, the precise method for carrying out or reproducing a given experiment.
  • * 1931 , Gye & Purdy, The Cause of Cancer , p. 194:
    • The following is an abstract of the protocol of the experiment: Tumour extract. —A measured 16 c.c. of minced Rous Sarcoma tissue was ground with sand and extracted with 400 c.c. of 0.8-per-cent. saline.
  • The official rules and guidelines for heads of state and other dignitaries, governing accepted behaviour in relations with other diplomatic representatives or over affairs of state.
  • * 2009 , Laura Johnson, "A mwah too far", The Guardian , 19 Sep 2009:
    • Even the Queen (for whom the curtsey is a more standard address) was recently treated to an enthusiastic Obama embrace. Her Majesty, who is not normally known for partaking in such public displays of affection, seemed unperturbed by Michelle Obama's disregard for royal protocol .
  • (by extension) An accepted code of conduct; acceptable behaviour in a given situation or group.
  • * 2010 , The Guardian , 16 Jul 2010:
    • For those uncertain in the protocol of handshaking a formula for the perfect handshake has been devised by scientists at the University of Manchester.
  • (computing) A set of formal rules describing how to transmit or exchange data, especially across a network.
  • * 2006 , Zheng & Ni, Smart Phone and Next-Generation Mobile Computing , p. 444:
    • An exception is Jabber, which is designed based on an open protocol called the extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP).
  • (medicine) The set of instructions allowing a licensed medical professional to start, modify, or stop a medical or patient care order.

    • Synonyms

    * procedure * policy

    Verb

  • (obsolete) To make a protocol of.
  • (obsolete) To make or write protocols, or first drafts; to issue protocols.
    • (Carlyle)

    Anagrams

    * ----