Message

• Any thought or idea expressed briefly in a plain or secret language, prepared in a form suitable for transmission by any means of communication.

• An arbitrary amount of information whose beginning and end are defined or implied.

• Record information[?] expressed in plain or encrypted language and prepared in a format specified for intended transmission by a telecommunications system.

(Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms)

See also instant messaging