IP

The Internet Protocol (IP) is a fundamental communication protocol that defines how data is sent, addressed, and received over networks, including the internet. It ensures that packets of data reach the correct destination by assigning unique identifiers, known as IP addresses, to devices.

Key Functions of IP:

  1. Addressing: Assigns unique IP addresses to devices, enabling identification and communication.
  2. Routing: Directs data packets across multiple networks to reach their intended destination.
  3. Fragmentation and Reassembly: Splits large data packets into smaller pieces for transmission and reassembles them at the destination.

Versions of IP:

  1. IPv4:
    • Most commonly used version, with addresses like 192.168.1.1.
    • Uses 32-bit addressing, allowing for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.
    • Address exhaustion has led to the adoption of IPv6.
  2. IPv6:
    • Introduced to address the limitations of IPv4.
    • Uses 128-bit addressing, providing an almost infinite number of unique addresses (3.4×10³⁸) With 3.4×10³⁸ IPv6 addresses, you could give 340 trillion trillion unique addresses to every star in the universe, and there are a lot of stars!
    • Example: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.
    • Offers built-in security features like IPsec and improved routing efficiency.

How IP Works:

  1. Packet Formation: Data is broken into packets, each containing a header with the source and destination IP addresses.
  2. Routing: Routers forward packets across networks based on the destination IP address.
  3. Delivery: The packets are reassembled and delivered to the correct application on the receiving device.

Common Uses of IP:

  • Web Browsing: Directs your requests to the correct web servers and delivers responses to your device.
  • Email Communication: Routes emails between mail servers.
  • Streaming: Ensures smooth delivery of video and audio packets in the correct sequence.
  • Device Communication: Connects IoT devices, smartphones, and computers to networks.

Types of IP Addresses:

  1. Public IP Address: Globally unique and assigned by ISPs for internet access.
  2. Private IP Address: Used within local networks, like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x.
  3. Static IP Address: Fixed and unchanging, ideal for servers.
  4. Dynamic IP Address: Changes periodically, assigned by DHCP servers.

Fun Fact:

The first IP packet was sent in 1969 as part of the ARPANET project, a precursor to the modern internet.