IPprotokollaan

IPprotokollaan, commonly referred to as the Internet Protocol, is a fundamental protocol used for routing and addressing packets of data across the internet. It is responsible for ensuring that data sent from a source device reaches its intended destination device. IP operates at the network layer of the TCP/IP suite, which is the foundation of internet communication.

The primary function of IP is to provide a logical addressing scheme for devices connected to a network. Each device on the internet is assigned a unique IP address, which acts as its identifier. This address is used by routers to determine the path data packets should take to reach their destination. IP itself does not guarantee delivery; it is a connectionless protocol, meaning each packet is sent independently without establishing a prior connection. Reliability and ordered delivery are handled by higher-level protocols, most notably the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).

There are two main versions of the Internet Protocol: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4, the older and more widely used version, uses 32-bit addresses, leading to a limited number of unique addresses. IPv6, designed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, utilizes 128-bit addresses, providing a vastly larger address space. The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is an ongoing process to accommodate the ever-growing number of internet-connected devices. IPprotokollaan is essential for the functioning of the global internet.