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Computer Networks · Question Set
Application Layer Protocols interview questions for placements and exams.
Questions
13
Included in this set
Subject
Computer Networks
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Difficulty
Mixed
Level of this set
Go through each question and its explanation. Use this set as a focused practice pack for Computer Networks.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) handles sending of emails from clients to mail servers and between servers. POP3 and IMAP are used for retrieving emails. Interviewers often test your ability to distinguish these roles.
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The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) governs how web clients (browsers) and servers exchange data such as HTML documents, images, and scripts. HTTPS is its secure version using SSL/TLS encryption to protect communication.
The Application Layer provides network services directly to end-user applications such as browsers, email clients, or file-transfer tools. It ensures proper communication by offering protocols like HTTP, FTP, and SMTP.
POP3 downloads messages from the server and usually deletes them after download, allowing offline access but poor synchronization. IMAP keeps emails on the server, enabling access from multiple devices and real-time sync of folders. For modern multi-device email, IMAP is preferred. Mentioning their default ports (POP3 110, IMAP 143, with secure versions 995 and 993) adds detail for interviews.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) automates IP assignment, reducing manual configuration. It provides IP, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS information during device startup. The process involves four steps: Discover, Offer, Request, and Acknowledge.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) enables administrators to monitor device status, performance, and configuration using management information bases (MIBs). It’s critical in enterprise network maintenance and troubleshooting.
HTTPS adds a security layer using SSL/TLS encryption. Before communication, the client and server perform a handshake to establish encryption keys and verify certificates. This ensures confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. Even if packets are intercepted, the encrypted data remains unreadable. Emphasizing this distinction highlights awareness of secure web communication practices.
RESTful APIs follow HTTP standards where GET retrieves data, POST creates, PUT updates, and DELETE removes resources. Understanding these verbs and their stateless behavior is a frequent modern interview topic.
A proxy server acts as an intermediary between client and server. It forwards client requests, caches frequently accessed data, hides client identities, and filters content. Proxies improve performance and add security by isolating internal networks from external traffic. Companies often use them for logging and access control.
Cookies store small pieces of data like session IDs on the client side to maintain state in the otherwise stateless HTTP protocol. They help websites remember users, preferences, or login sessions across multiple requests.
A CDN is a globally distributed network of servers that cache and deliver web content from the nearest geographical location to the user. This reduces latency, balances load, and enhances availability. When a user requests data, the CDN directs them to the closest edge server, minimizing delay and bandwidth costs. Mentioning popular CDNs like Cloudflare or Akamai shows practical awareness.
The Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses. When a user enters a URL, the resolver checks its cache, then queries a root server, a top-level domain server (like .com), and finally an authoritative server for the exact record. The resolved IP address is returned to the client and cached for future use. This hierarchical process ensures fast, scalable name resolution across the Internet.
FTP allows users to upload and download files from remote servers using separate control and data connections. It supports authentication and directory operations, making it useful for sharing large datasets or website maintenance.