Which type of protocol is often employed when the native protocols of devices are incompatible?

When addressing interoperability issues between devices that use incompatible native protocols, sockets are commonly utilized as the solution. Sockets provide a simplified way for software applications to communicate over a network, essentially allowing them to send and receive data regardless of their underlying protocols. This is particularly useful in scenarios where disparate systems need to exchange information, as sockets enable a layer of abstraction that facilitates this process.

Unlike specific application layer protocols such as HTTP or FTP, which are used for particular types of communication (web browsing and file transfer respectively), sockets offer a more general-purpose approach to data transmission. They work at a lower level on the transport layer, which allows them to handle streams of data and communicate directly between devices, making them suitable for establishing connections even when the devices' native protocols do not align.

Therefore, in contexts where devices cannot communicate due to protocol incompatibility, leveraging socket-based programming and communication can effectively bridge that gap, enabling effective data exchanges and fostering interoperability in industrial settings.