View source for Payload (computing)

{{Short description|Content of a message excluding headers and metadata}}

In [[Computing|computing]] and telecommunications, the '''payload''' is the part of [[Data transmission|transmitted data]] that is the actual intended message. [[Header (computing)|Headers]] and [[Metadata|metadata]] are sent only to enable payload delivery<ref name="pcmag">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/payload |title=payload |website=Pcmag.com |date=1994-12-01 |access-date=2021-04-29}}</ref><ref name="techterms">{{cite web|url=http://www.techterms.com/definition/payload |title=Payload |website=Techterms.com |access-date=2021-04-29}}</ref> and are considered [[Overhead (computing)|overhead]].

In the context of a [[Computer virus|computer virus]] or [[Computer worm|worm]], the payload is the portion of the [[Malware|malware]] which performs malicious action.

The term is borrowed from transportation, where ''[[Engineering:Payload|payload]]'' refers to the part of the load that ''pays'' for transportation. 

==Networking==
In computer networking, the data to be transmitted is the payload. It is almost always [[Encapsulation (networking)|encapsulated]] in some type of [[Frame (networking)|frame]] format, composed of framing bits and a [[Frame check sequence|frame check sequence]].<ref>{{cite IETF
 |      title = "RFC 1122: Requirements for Internet Hosts &mdash; Communication Layers"
 |        rfc = 1122
 |       page = 18
 |date=October 1989
 |  publisher = [[Organization:Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]]
 | access-date = 2010-06-07
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_DataLinkLayerLayer2.htm |title=Data Link Layer (Layer 2) |publisher=The TCP/IP Guide |date=2005-09-20 |access-date=2010-01-31}}</ref>  Examples are [[Ethernet frame]]s, [[Point-to-Point Protocol]] (PPP) frames, [[Fibre Channel frame]]s, and [[Link Access Procedure for Modems|V.42 modem frames]]. 

==Programming==
In [[Computer programming|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]] web service response might be:
 { "data": { "message": "Hello, world!" } }
The string ''Hello, world!'' is the payload of JSON message, while the rest is protocol overhead.

==Security==
{{Anchor|Computer security}}In [[Computer security|computer security]], the payload is the part of the private user text which could also contain [[Malware|malware]] such as [[Computer worm|worms]] or [[Computer virus|viruses]] which performs the malicious action; deleting data, sending spam or encrypting data.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5381/payload |title=Payload |publisher=Techopedia.com |access-date=2018-03-05}}</ref> In addition to the payload, such malware also typically has overhead code aimed at simply spreading itself, or avoiding detection.

==See also==

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Information security}}
[[Category:Data transmission]]
[[Category:Computer security exploits]]

{{Sourceattribution|Payload (computing)}}