How does the interaction between trample and protection work in Magic: The Gathering?

When a creature with trample attacks a creature with protection in Magic: The Gathering, the attacking creature's excess damage can still be dealt to the defending player or planeswalker. Protection prevents damage, enchanting, blocking, and targeting from sources of the specified color or type, but trample allows excess damage to go through to the defending player or planeswalker if the blocking creature is destroyed.