You may have heard the term handshake in business settings. But this social practice exists in the digital world, too. In this article, we will explore what a handshake is, its function, and its importance in ensuring devices communicate smoothly and securely.
What is handshaking?
In the computing world, a handshake is a practice of establishing communications between two devices. The handshake protocol is initiated after the physical connection is established before any data or other communication can occur. This allows the devices to negotiate the parameters of the communication.
What are examples of handshakes?
There are specific handshake protocols used that vary depending on the technology and application. Here are some common examples of handshakes:
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TLS handshake:
TLS handshake is a type of handshake used to establish a connection between devices. The process involves exchanging encryption keys and certificates to secure identity verification and guarantee the privacy and integrity of transmitted information.
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TCP three-way handshake:
TCP three-way handshake is a fundamental type of handshake mainly used for communication over networks like the Internet. It’s called a “three-way handshake” because it involves three messages exchanged between devices to establish a connection, synchronize data transfer, and ensure both parties are ready to receive and send information. Almost all of our online activities involve this type of handshake.
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Ethernet handshake:
Ethernet handshakes occur when devices connect to an Ethernet network. They involve exchanging key data like speed, ensuring devices can establish a connection smoothly and efficiently.
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SSH handshake:
SSH handshake is another type primarily used to establish a secure shell connection between a client and a server. This handshake involves verifying user identity and negotiating encryption methods for secure remote access.
Why is handshaking important?
Handshaking is key in ensuring reliable, efficient, and secure data communication between devices. Here are some of them:
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Setting communication parameters:
Devices need to understand each other to establish communication. Handshaking allows devices to negotiate things like data transfer by ensuring some parameters are met, such as data transfer rate, coding format, error-checking methods, and other technical specifications, by providing both devices agree on these parameters before data transmission begins.
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Synchronization:
Handshaking helps devices synchronize data flow between the devices trying to communicate. Synchronization in handshaking is essential because it allows devices to prevent data from being sent too quickly or too slowly, making data flow just right for transmission and not overwhelm or underwhelm the receiver.
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Error identification:
The handshaking process has mechanisms that detect possible errors during transmission, allowing devices to correct any data corruption.
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Security:
Authenticating devices is a critical part of the handshaking process. Secure handshakes can help by establishing encryption methods protecting data privacy and integrity.
The essence of handshaking in the digital space
Handshaking is the process of establishing communication between devices. It’s essential to what happens behind the scenes in the digital space, ensuring devices can communicate effectively. A handshake also sets communication parameters, maintains synchronization, identifies errors, and enforces security. The process is a secure and reliable authentication and session establishment protocol, orchestrating seamless device communication.
