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In computer networking, a frame is a digital data transmission unit on the Layer 2 of the OSI model.^[1]

RFC 1122^[2] defines a frame as: "the unit of transmission in a link layer protocol, and consists of a link-layer header followed by a packet."

Frames are used for data exchange between two points via a direct physical or logical link. Depending on the Layer 2 protocol employed, the receiver of frames uses one of several multiplex techniques to distinguish more than one logical data streams (sometimes dubbed virtual circuits) which run over a single shared medium.

At the receiver, one of several frame synchronization processes detects the beginning and end of the frame.

[edit] See also

• Data Link Layer
• Multiplex techniques
• Packet (information technology)
• overhead bits

[edit] References

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