Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

In computing, flow control is a crucial aspect of networking and communication. It ensures that a data sender does not overwhelm a receiver with messages that it cannot process or store. This is managed through standardized rules called protocols. Flow control is one of the functions handled by the data-link layer within the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, which breaks down network communication into seven layers. This mechanism prevents data loss and ensures efficient data transmission between computers.

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.