Before computer science, it was defined as a way of speaking or acting between people in certain situations: >the official procedure or system of rules governi

Before computer science, it was defined as a way of speaking or acting between people in certain situations: >the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions. "protocol forbids the prince from making any public statement in his defense" >the accepted or established code of procedure or behavior in any group, organization, or situation. "what is the protocol at a conference if one's neighbor dozes off during the speeches?"