Internet Protocol (IP)

When information is sent across the network, the data is broken down into small packets. Each packet is sent independently of one another. Each packet is encoded with IP information, such as the IP address of the sender and receiver. IP packets can be routed over routers and gateways, devices that connect a network with other networks.

IP communications is connectionless. When IP packets are sent, there is no guarantee that they arrive at their destination in the proper sequence. That task can be performed by higher level protocols and applications thereby allowing IP communications to be efficient.

Each node or device that will communicate directly onto the network requires an IP address.