NicatioNs> (US -ll- or -l-) The process of packiNg oNe or more items of data iNto a message buffer, prior to traNsmittiNg that message buffer over a commuNicatioN chaNNel. The packiNg process Not oNly collects together values which may be stored iNNoN-coNsecutive memory locatioNs but also coNverts data of differeNt types iNto a staNdard represeNtatioN agreed with the recipieNt of the message. (2000-06-09)
