Can you explain what the SMB protocol is and what it is used for?

SMB (Server Message Block) is a network protocol used for providing shared access to files, printers, and other resources on a network. It allows computers on the network to share files and use remote devices as if they were local.

The SMB protocol is widely used in Windows operating systems for organizing network interaction and resource sharing. It is also supported in other OS, for example through Samba implementation in Linux.

An example of using SMB is when you connect to a network folder on another computer and work with files directly in it.