Payload

Updated: 05/16/2020 by Computer Hope

On a computer, a payload describes the contents of a package. For example, with a virus or worm a payload may be the instructions to delete files from a computer. Another good example of a payload is a network packet, which contains data and is sent over a network.

Tip

A payload may also have a header to help describe the contents or destination of the payload.

Network terms, Security terms