Incomputing andtelecommunications, thepayload is the part oftransmitted data that is the actual intended message.Headers andmetadata are sent only to enable payload delivery[1][2] and are consideredoverhead.
In the context of acomputer virus orworm, the payload is the portion of themalware which performs malicious action.
The term is borrowed fromtransportation, wherepayload refers to the part of the load thatpays for transportation.
Incomputer networking, the data to be transmitted is the payload. It is almost alwaysencapsulated in some type offrame format, composed offraming bits and aframe check sequence.[3][4] Examples areEthernet frames,Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frames,Fibre Channel frames, andV.42 modem frames.
Incomputer programming, the most common usage of the term is in the context of message protocols, to differentiate theprotocol overhead from the actual data. For example, aJSONweb service response might be:
{ "data": { "message": "Hello, world!" } }The stringHello, world! is the payload of JSON message, while the rest is protocol overhead.
Incomputer security, the payload is the part of the private user text which could also containmalware such asworms orviruses which performs the malicious action; deleting data, sending spam or encrypting data.[5] In addition to the payload, such malware also typically has overhead code aimed at simply spreading itself, or avoiding detection.
