Frame (networking)

A frame is a digital data transmission unit in computer networking and telecommunications.

In other telecommunications systems, a frame is a repeating structure supporting time-division multiplexing.

A frame typically includes frame synchronization features consisting of a sequence of bits or symbols that indicate to the receiver the beginning and end of the payload data within the stream of symbols or bits it receives.

[5] In telecommunications, specifically in time-division multiplex (TDM) and time-division multiple access (TDMA) variants, a frame is a cyclically repeated data block that consists of a fixed number of time slots, one for each logical TDM channel or TDMA transmitter.

The frame is also an entity for time-division duplex, where the mobile terminal may transmit during some time slots and receive during others.