Messaging protocols are an essential element of the networking technologies that support real-time communication between devices, applications, and cloud-based systems, contributing to the Internet of Things (IoT).
The underlying protocol that enables internet communication is called TCP/IP, or Internet Protocol.
To ensure successful chats, both the sender and receiver of messages must use the same data transfer protocol, with additional chat protocols capable of being constructed on top of UDP or TCP.
There are various benefits and characteristics of different chat applications, and it is these that will determine the protocol that they will use, with some being more secure or faster than others.
Current trends in messaging, such as encryption and privacy, are also influencing how new protocols are developed and what becomes standard going forward.