What is the Difference Between Encapsulation and Tunneling?

Encapsulation and tunneling are two important concepts in computer networking, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics.

Encapsulation is the process of wrapping a payload (a frame or a packet) with an additional header so that it can be transmitted securely and efficiently across a network. This process is used to ensure that data is transmitted securely and efficiently across a network. For example, HTTP is encapsulated by TCP.

Tunneling, on the other hand, is a method used to transfer a payload of one protocol using an internetwork infrastructure of another protocol. It works via encapsulation, wrapping a packet inside another packet. Tunneling is used to create secure connections between two points on a network, such as connecting two branches of a company's network or connecting to a remote server over the internet. The whole process of encapsulation, transmission, and subsequent decapsulation is called tunneling.

In summary, the main differences between encapsulation and tunneling are:

• Encapsulation is a process that wraps a payload with an additional header for secure and efficient transmission across a network, while tunneling is a method used to transfer a payload of one protocol using an internetwork infrastructure of another protocol.
• Encapsulation is only one step in the tunneling process, which also includes transmission and decapsulation.
• Encapsulation is generally used for transmitting data between two points on the same network or protecting data as it travels across the internet, while tunneling is used to create secure connections between different networks or remote servers.

Comparative Table: Encapsulation vs Tunneling

Encapsulation and tunneling are two different techniques used in computer networking. Here is a table comparing the differences between them:

In summary, encapsulation is the process of adding headers to data at each layer of a protocol stack, while tunneling is a method used to transport data packets from one protocol within a different protocol through a virtual interface, allowing a lower-layer or same-layer protocol to be carried through the tunnel.