IP

The IP or Internet Protocol is the primary communication protocol for relaying data packets between internet systems through the Internet Protocol Suite. IP is the service originally included with the Transmission Protocol Program along-side the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). As a result, the Internet Protocol Suite is widely referred to as TCP/IP.

The first major version of IP (IPv4) is the predominant transfer protocol for the Internet. It's successor, IPv6, is currently active although it's support is still growing.

Services
IP provides a method of connecting internet-enables systems through the use if IP addresses and routing. Addresses provide an identifier for each computer in the network, separated into various sub-networks with routing tables to connect one computer to another though a chain of connections.

IP Addresses
IP addresses are stored and transmitted in a binary format, but are typically displayed in a human-readable format.

Related Pages

 * IP4
 * IP6