PAD

Webopedia Staff
Last Updated May 24, 2021 7:51 am

Short for packet assembler/disassembler PAD is a device (hardware or software) used in packet switching to enable data terminal equipment (DTE) not equipped for packet switching to access a packet-switched network. PAD is a term most often associated with an X.25 network where the PAD breaks the data stream into individual packets and formats the packet headers for asynchronous transmission.