In computer networking, what is the term for an agreed set of rules that governs how communication between two parties proceeds?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to basic computer science and networking general knowledge. When devices such as computers, servers or routers communicate over a network, they must follow a common set of rules so that data is sent, received and interpreted correctly. These rules specify how a connection is started, how data is framed, how errors are handled and how a session is ended. The term used for this agreed set of communication rules is very important in information technology and appears frequently in exams and technical interviews.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question focuses on an agreement between communicating parties on how communication is to proceed.
• Options include Path, SLA, Bond and Protocol.
• The context clearly points to the world of networking and communication systems.
• We assume that the candidate has basic knowledge of common networking terminology.

Concept / Approach:
In networking terminology, a protocol is defined as a formal set of rules and conventions that determine how data is transmitted across a network. Examples are HTTP for web pages, TCP for reliable transport, UDP for connectionless transport and SMTP for email. A protocol covers details such as message formats, sequencing, acknowledgements and error handling. Other terms in the options, such as Path and SLA, describe different concepts and do not refer to the rules of communication themselves. Therefore, the correct conceptual match is protocol.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the definition in the question an agreement between communicating parties on how communication is to proceed.Step 2: Recall networking fundamentals where such agreements are called protocols, for example the Transmission Control Protocol.Step 3: Examine each option and compare it with this concept.Step 4: Recognise that Path refers to a route taken by data packets and SLA refers to a service level agreement, not the communication rules themselves.Step 5: Select Protocol as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to think of the OSI model or the TCP or IP stack, where each layer is associated with specific protocols such as IP, TCP, HTTP and FTP. In each case, these protocols are defined as sets of rules that govern how data is formatted, transmitted and acknowledged. Textbooks also explicitly define network protocols as agreements between communicating entities. This language matches the wording in the question, confirming that protocol is the intended answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Path typically describes the route or sequence of nodes that a data packet follows in a network but not the rules of communication. SLA, or service level agreement, is a contract between a service provider and a customer about quality of service, uptime and response times, not the low level communication procedure. Bond is a generic term often used for financial instruments or legal agreements and does not specifically describe network communication rules. None of these terms fit the given definition as precisely as protocol.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be distracted by the presence of SLA because it also involves an agreement, but it is about service guarantees rather than communication rules. Others might think of path because they associate networks with routing. The key to avoiding these mistakes is to focus on the phrase how communication is to proceed and recall that this is the standard textbook definition of a protocol, not of any other concept.

Final Answer:
In computer networking, such an agreed set of communication rules is called a protocol.