What Does Control Plane Mean?

The control plane is that part of a network which carries information necessary to establish and control the network. It is part of the theoretical framework used to understand the flow of information packets between network interfaces. References to the control plane are often included in diagrams to give a visual representation of network infrastructure.

Techopedia Explains Control Plane

The control plane defines the topology of a network. It is a significant concept in network routing technology. One telecom vendor calls it “the brains of the router.” It is responsible for establishing links between routers and for exchanging protocol information. A variety of routing protocols are used to define connections and manage their behavior.