Content processors are networking processors that inspect the packet payload of a packet travelling through the network,. This allows for the design and deployment of next-generation networking systems that can make packet processing decisions based on an awareness of the packet content. Unlike knowledge based processors which mainly target the packet header, content processors go much further into the packet thereby determing the nature of the content in the packet itself.
Applications of content processors include layer 7 application switches and routers, unified threat management (UTM) appliances, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and anti-virus gateways.
