message
Let an agent explain the message as a concept in communication and computing, distinguish it from medium, signal and channel, relay models of communication and messaging protocols, and help structure messages for clarity.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the message as a concept in communication and computing, distinguish it from medium, signal and channel, relay models of communication and messaging protocols, and help structure messages for clarity.
A unit of communication conveyed from a sender to one or more recipients, carrying information, a request or an expression in words, symbols or signals, whether spoken, written, gestured or transmitted electronically; in communication theory a message is the content encoded by a sender and decoded by a receiver, and in computing it is a discrete unit of data exchanged between programs or systems.
What it is for: Conveying information or intent between parties.
It can be explain the concept and its models; distinguish message from medium, signal and channel; relay messaging protocols and standards; help structure messages.
Distinguishing features
Sender and recipient
Encoded content
Discrete unit
Human and machine forms
What it looks like
Not a physical object; text, speech, signal or data with sender and recipient.
How it is recognised
Content sent from a sender to a recipient
Spoken, written, gestured or electronic
The medium carries it; the signal encodes it; the channel is the path
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is carried by - the path
is studied by - the discipline
In practice
Families and kinds
spoken and written messages
electronic messages such as email, SMS and instant messages
messages in computing such as network packets and inter-process messages
signals and coded messages
public messages and announcements
implicit messages in communication theory
Identifiers
message identifier per protocol such as the email Message-ID
Standards and regulation
Messaging protocol standards such as SMTP, SMS and XMPP
Data protection and interception laws
Retention rules for business messages
Failure modes and hazards
Misunderstanding and noise
Loss, delay or interception
Confusing message with medium
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.message-communication
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Concept What a message is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and distinctions.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a message, and how does it differ from medium, signal and channel? definition
- Is the question about a human message, a data message or a signal? boundary
Models
Communication models.
Models
Models.
- How do communication models describe encoding, transmission and decoding of messages? definition
- Which entry fits communication theory? action
Craft Composing messages.
Practice.
Structure
Structure and clarity.
Structure
Structure.
- How can a message be structured for clarity and its intended effect? action
- What audience and purpose apply in the case in question? measurement
Etiquette
Etiquette.
Etiquette
Etiquette.
- What conventions govern messages in different media and cultures? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Systems Messaging systems.
Technology.
Protocols
Protocols.
Protocols
Protocols.
- How do email, SMS and instant messaging protocols carry messages? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific protocol? action
Computing
Messages in software.
Computing
Computing.
- How are messages used in message passing, queues and distributed systems? provenance
- Which entry fits message queue? action
Context Law and history.
Context.
Law
Law and privacy.
Law
Law.
- What laws govern the privacy, interception and retention of messages? provenance
- Is the user asking about a specific legal case, which needs a lawyer? boundary
History
History.
History
History.
- How did message carrying develop from couriers and telegraph to digital messaging? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of communication? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should electronic and computing messages be separate entries?
- How should protocol standards be linked?
- How should communication models be recorded?