Conceptual model and vocabulary

Version 0.3.0 Updated Apr 06, 2026

Wireframe uses layer-specific terms. Keep these boundaries explicit so transport concerns do not leak into routing or domain logic.

Layer Canonical term Meaning
Transport Frame The wire unit produced and consumed by FrameCodec.
Routing envelope Envelope The routable wrapper that carries id, optional correlation_id, and payload bytes (Packet is the trait abstraction).
Domain payload Message The typed value encoded into and decoded from payload bytes.
Transport subdivision Fragment A bounded slice of large payload bytes plus fragmentation metadata.

Vocabulary rules:

  • Use frame for wire-format codec units only.
  • Use envelope for routable wrappers and instances; use packet when discussing the Packet trait abstraction or PacketParts.
  • Use message for typed application payloads implementing wireframe::message::EncodeWith/wireframe::message::DecodeWith (or wireframe::message::Message for bincode-compatible types).
  • Use fragment only for transport-level split/reassembly units.

For invariants and naming rules used across internal modules, see the developers' guide.