Internet Protocol

Also known as IP

communication protocol that allows connections between networks

AI overview

Internet Protocol is a set of rules that enables different computer networks to connect and communicate with each other. It matters because it forms the foundational system that allows all internet communication to work, from sending emails to streaming videos.

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Commons category: Internet Protocol
publication date: 1981-00-00

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Article

The Internet Protocol (IP) is the network layer communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries. Its routing function enables internetworking, and essentially establishes the Internet.

IP has the task of delivering packets from the source host to the destination host solely based on the IP addresses in the packet headers. For this purpose, IP defines packet structures that encapsulate the data to be delivered. It also defines addressing methods that are used to label the datagram with source and destination information.