Carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) in computer networking, is a network multiple access method in which carrier sensing is used, but nodes attempt to avoid collisions by beginning transmission only after the channel is sensed to be "idle".[1][2] When they do transmit, nodes transmit their packet data in its entirety.
It is particularly important for wireless networks, where the alternative with collision detection CSMA/CD, is not possible due to wireless transmitters desensing (turning off) their receivers during packet transmission.
CSMA/CA is unreliable due to the hidden node problem.[3][4]
CSMA/CA is a protocol that operates in the data link layer.
- ^ "Federal Standard 1037C". Its.bldrdoc.gov. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "American National Standard T1.523-2001, Telecom Glossary 2000". Atis.org. Archived from the original on 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Study of different CSMA/CA IEEE 802.11-based implementations, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ Viral V. Kapadia; Sudarshan N. Patel; Rutvij H. Jhaveri (2010). "Comparative study of hidden node problem and solution using different techniques and protocols, Journal of Computing". arXiv:1003.4070 [cs.NI].