Internet protocol

The Internet Protocol(IP) is responsible for addressing hosts and routing packets(datagrams) from a source host to a destination host across one or more networks.

The packets are jumping from host to host(probably a couple of times) and finally reach their destination. This jumping from “host to host” is called “hops”. You might read this article if you are interested how to trace the route of your packets.

The IP protocol will forward each single packet from host to host until the packet reaches it’s destination. Each time a packet lands on a host, the host will check for another host which is closer to the final destination and forward the packet accordingly. This is done by “routing tables”. When a specific route is suddenly broken, the packet will follow another route to it’s final destination.

Bottom line: the IP protocol is a fine cabbie and delivers your packets with care.

Schematic overview – How the IP protocol works

More network protocols

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