---
title: Glossary · Cloudflare Magic Network Monitoring docs
description: Review the definitions for terms used across Cloudflare's Magic
  Network Monitoring documentation.
lastUpdated: 2024-08-13T19:56:56.000Z
chatbotDeprioritize: false
source_url:
  html: https://developers.cloudflare.com/magic-network-monitoring/glossary/
  md: https://developers.cloudflare.com/magic-network-monitoring/glossary/index.md
---

Review the definitions for terms used across Cloudflare's Magic Network Monitoring documentation.

| Term | Definition |
| - | - |
| flow data | Represents records of communication between devices. There are a number of flow data protocols, such as NetFlow or sFlow. |
| NetFlow | Network protocol developed by Cisco to collect and monitor network traffic flow data. |
| sampling | In the context of Magic Network Monitoring, sampling is the process of taking samples of packets for a specific period to identify potential attacks. |
| sFlow | An industry standard packet sampling protocol to monitor network devices. |
