Easy1 markMultiple Choice
Fundamentals of computer networksGeneralnetworksprotocolsSMTP

AQA GCSE · Question 14.4 · Fundamentals of computer networks

Shade one lozenge to indicate the application layer protocol used for sending emails from a client device to a mail server.

Answer options:

A.

FTP

B.

HTTP

C.

SMTP

D.

UDP

How to approach this question

Review the purpose of each protocol listed: - **FTP:** File Transfer Protocol. Used for transferring files. - **HTTP:** Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Used for web pages. - **SMTP:** Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Used for *sending* email. - **UDP:** User Datagram Protocol. A transport layer protocol, not for a specific application like email. The question asks for the protocol for *sending emails*, which directly matches the purpose of SMTP.

Full Answer

C.SMTP✓ Correct
The correct option is C, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).
The TCP/IP model consists of several layers, and the application layer contains protocols for specific tasks. Let's look at the options: - **FTP (File Transfer Protocol):** This protocol is used for the bulk transfer of computer files between a client and server on a network. - **HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol):** This is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web, used to load web pages. - **SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol):** This is the standard internet protocol for sending electronic mail (email) from a client to a server, and between servers. - **UDP (User Datagram Protocol):** This is a transport layer protocol, not an application layer one. It provides a connectionless and unreliable service, suitable for applications like video streaming or online gaming. The question specifically asks for the protocol used for **sending emails**, which is the definition of SMTP.

Common mistakes

✗ Confusing SMTP (for sending email) with POP3 or IMAP (for receiving email). ✗ Choosing a protocol for a different purpose, like FTP or HTTP. ✗ Choosing a protocol from the wrong layer, like UDP.

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