IP

=[|IP]=


 * Author: Clarina Chua**

IP (Internet Protocol) is one of the most important protocol in the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP), designed by Robert Khan and Vinton Cerf. It is the main system of rules used when tranferring data from one device to another. In other words, its primary function is to deliver packets (datagrams) from its host to the host's destination by using only their addresses. There are private and public IP address. A private IP address is for a local network and is invisible to others on the Internet. In contrast, a public IP address is for public computers or networks that provides a service on the internet.

Today, IPv4 (IP Version 4) is dominating the internet. This is because IPv4 uses only 4 bytes (x. y. w. z.). Each byte or set of number can range from 0-255, creating over 4 billion different IP addresses. However, with the world's population and the number of users on the internet increasing, IP addresses are slowly starting to run out; therefore, IPv4 will soon be replaced by IPv6.

IP can be used over a network connecting computers and other devices even with different operating systems and protocols. For instance, it connects LANs (locak area networks), WANs (wide area networks), and other networks, so that information can be transferred from one place to another. IP is the reason why the internet is still running smoothly and organized even with millions of users.

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1. Type in web browser. 2. DNS server automatically sends IP address to computer/device. 3. IP delivers packets to host destination.


 * [|Wikipedia]
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