Packetized

Packetized refers to the division of digital data into smaller units called packets for transmission or storage. Each packet carries a portion of the original message (the payload) and a header with addressing, sequencing, and control information. Packetization enables routing, multiplexing, error detection, and efficient use of network resources, as packets can be interleaved, retransmitted, and reassembled at the destination.

In networking, packetized data moves over packet-switched networks such as the Internet. Individual packets may travel different routes and arrive out of order; the receiving system reorders and reassembles the message. Protocols provide features such as addressing (IP), reliability and ordering (TCP), or lightweight delivery (UDP). Packets include error detection (checksums) and may be fragmented to fit network MTU, requiring reassembly.

In media and real-time communication, packetization carries audio, video, and other streams. Real-time protocols (for example RTP) package media into packets with timing information, while jitter buffers mitigate variability in arrival. Packet loss can affect quality, especially for interactive applications.

In storage and data transfer, packetization supports chunking data for error checking, parallel transmission, and scalable transfer across networks or interconnects. The concept underpins many modern communications systems and the general design of packet-switched networks. The historical idea dates to early packet-switching research in the 1960s, leading to widespread use in ARPANET and subsequent networks.