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Trailer (computing)

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In information technology, trailer refers to supplemental data placed at the end of a block of data being stored or transmitted, which may contain information for the handling of the data block, or just mark its end.

In data transmission, the data preceding the trailer are sometimes called the payload or body.

It is vital that trailer composition follow a clear and unambiguous specification or format, to allow for parsing.

Examples

  • In ATM Adaptation Layer 5, an 8-octet trailer is appended to packets before segmentation and subsequent transmission.