Protocol, << PROH tuh kol, >> is a document containing a record of talks carried on by diplomatic representatives. The document shows that the diplomats have agreed on important issues. A protocol is an official government paper, but it does not have the force of a treaty until ratified by the governments concerned (see Treaty ). The term protocol also means the official etiquette of state ceremonies. In electronic communication, protocol refers to the standards that regulate sending and receiving data.
