What is the term for the process of removing headers and trailers from data received over a network?

The process of removing headers and trailers from data received over a network is known as de-encapsulation. In networking, when data is sent across a network, it is encapsulated with additional information (headers and trailers) at different layers of the OSI or TCP/IP models. Each layer adds its own header (and sometimes trailer) as the data packet moves down the stack before transmission.

Upon arrival at the receiving end, the protocol for that layer must strip away these added headers and trailers to extract the original data payload. This action of removing the encapsulating information is what is referred to as de-encapsulation. It is crucial for proper data processing and ensures that the intended payload can be passed to the appropriate application or layer, functioning correctly within the network environment.

In contrast, encapsulation is about the process of adding headers and trailers when data is being prepared for transmission, and other terms like decoding or wrapper removal do not specifically refer to the network data communication context in the same way. These terms may apply in different situations but do not specifically define the removal of headers and trailers in network protocols.