An overview of what a data protocol is and how the Flare networks use built-in protocols to deliver and verify information.
A protocol is simply an agreed set of rules that lets systems communicate and cooperate consistently. A data protocol, specifically, governs how information is requested, delivered, and verified.
The Flare networks include several data protocols built directly into their foundations, most notably the FTSO and the FDC.
When a service is built into the base layer of a network, it is described as enshrined. This is a deliberate design choice: enshrined protocols benefit from the security and reliability of the foundational layer itself, rather than depending on separate add-on systems.
Learners will often see the phrase “enshrined data protocols” — it simply means “built into the foundations”.
Across the data protocols, one pattern repeats: replace “trust a single source” with “agree across many independent participants”. Continuous, regularly-updating information is handled by the FTSO; one-off confirmations that a specific event happened are handled by the FDC.
This article is part of the Flare Portal wiki — a free, independent educational reference. It is a conceptual overview and not a substitute for primary technical documentation.