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Chunk (Data Chunk)

Webopedia Staff
Last Updated June 25, 2022 1:04 am

A chunk, also called a data chunk, by RFC2960 SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) standards, is the term used to describe a unit of information within an SCTP packet that contains either control information or user data.

But even more simply, a data chunk can be a collection of related data. Data chunks are used in many different applications, including computer programming and databases. Learn more about what data chunks are and when they can be beneficial in this definition.

What Is a Data Chunk?

Data chunks are often used in databases to store information about specific topics or categories. For example, if you have a database that contains information about different types of cars, each car would be considered its own data chunk.

Chunking in Programming

Chunking is the process of breaking down large amounts of data into smaller, more manageable pieces. It’s an important concept in programming because it allows programmers to work with larger sets of information without becoming overwhelmed by the volume. This allows for faster retrieval and analysis when needed while reducing the amount of memory required to store it all at once. 

In addition, it can help reduce network traffic during transmission by sending only relevant portions rather than entire files or databases at once.

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