payload
n. countablen. the main part of a message or file that carries the actual data. In a digital attack, it is the part of the code that causes damage.
n. the part of a transmitted data packet or computer code that contains the intended message or malicious content, as opposed to metadata or overhead. Often used in the context of network protocols or cybersecurity.
The payload of the email contained a hidden virus.
After the header is processed, the system extracts the payload to display the actual text of the message.
Security analysts discovered that the malware's payload was designed to encrypt the user's files only after the system had been idle for several hours to avoid detection.
From pay + load. From the early 20th century.
In computing, it is frequently used to distinguish the 'useful' data from the 'administrative' data required for transmission.