What follows the Preamble in an Ethernet frame?

In an Ethernet frame structure, the Start Frame Delimiter (SFD) immediately follows the Preamble. The purpose of the Preamble is to prepare the receiving devices for the incoming frame by providing synchronization. The SFD is an 8-bit field that indicates the start of the frame itself.

This delimiter consists of a unique bit pattern (0xAB) that signifies the transition from the Preamble to the actual data portion of the frame. Following the SFD, the next field is the Destination Address, but it is crucial to recognize that the SFD serves as the specific marker that delineates the end of the Preamble and the beginning of the frame's core content.

Understanding the structure of an Ethernet frame is fundamental for networking concepts, especially because it ensures that devices correctly interpret the beginning of the data that follows, thereby facilitating effective communication on the network.