What is Protocol Buffers?
Protobuf
It is a method that allows different software to package and transport data very quickly and in small sizes while talking to each other.
Overview
Software usually uses text files when sending data to each other, but these files can sometimes be very large. Protocol Buffers convert data into a binary format, allowing it to take up much less space and be transmitted much faster. It was developed by Google and is now considered the standard in inter-system communication.
How it works
You first define the structure of the data in a template file. Then, your software packages the data using this template and sends it to the other party. The receiving side restores the data using the same template.
Where it is used
It is used in microservice architectures, communication of mobile applications with servers and systems that require high performance.
Commonly confused with
It may be confused with text-based data formats such as JSON or XML, but it is much faster and smaller.
Frequently asked questions
Can people read?
No, the data cannot be directly read by humans as it is in binary format, it is designed so that only computers can understand it.
Related terms
Related tools
This explanation was written in plain language for TreScout and machine-translated from the Turkish original · the Turkish version prevails. If something looks wrong or missing, write to hello@trescout.com. Read in Turkish →