What is Internet Protocol ?
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a fundamental protocol used for transferring packets of data across network boundaries. It is a core part of the TCP/IP suite, which is the basis for data exchange on the Internet.
Key Functions of IP
- Addressing: Every device connected to the internet is assigned a unique IP address which identifies the sender or receiver of information.
- Routing: IP is responsible for routing data packets from the source host to the destination host by determining the best path across a complex network of routes.
- Fragmentation and Reassembly: IP can fragment large data packets into smaller ones to facilitate easier routing and then reassemble them at the destination.
- Error Handling and Diagnostics: Although IP does not ensure error-free delivery, it utilizes the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) for error reporting and diagnostics.
Types of IP Addresses
There are two versions of IP addresses used on the internet:
- IPv4: Consists of 32-bit numeric addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
- IPv6: Developed to deal with the eventual exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, these are 128-bit hexadecimal addresses (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
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