class_name Packet


# set to 0 if variable length
#const BYTE_LENGTH := 0

var byte_length: int = 0:
	get = get_byte_length


## Override if packet has variable length.
func get_byte_length() -> int:
	return self.BYTE_LENGTH


## Get header to prepend to the packet. [br]
## [param packet_length] is only needed when the packet has a variable length.
func get_header(packet_length: int = 0) -> PackedByteArray:
	var bytes = PackedByteArray([0,0])
	bytes.encode_u16(0, self.HEADER)
	
	if packet_length > 0:
		bytes.resize(4)
		bytes.encode_u16(2, packet_length)
	
	return bytes