Internet Protocol (IP) is the standard that assigns addresses and routes packets so devices can communicate across networks and the internet. If you’re asking what is Internet Protocol, it’s the ruleset that structures data into packets, labels them with source/destination addresses, and relies on routers to forward them hop by hop to the right place.
In simple terms, IP is the postal system for bytes. Devices get an IP address, data is split into packets, and routers choose the next best path based on routing tables. IP pairs with higher-layer protocols—TCP for reliable delivery and UDP for low-latency traffic—while ICMP handles diagnostics like ping and path MTU checks.
Key points:
- Addresses: IPv4 uses 32-bit dotted-decimal (e.g., 203.0.113.10); IPv6 uses 128-bit hexadecimal for massive scale.
- Routing: Routers forward packets using routes learned statically or via protocols (e.g., BGP, OSPF).
- NAT & private space: Many networks use private ranges and Network Address Translation to reach the public internet.
- Best-effort delivery: IP doesn’t guarantee order or reliability; that’s handled by transport layers or applications.
Our take? Mastering IP fundamentals—addressing, subnetting, and routing—turns network complexity into predictable, debuggable behavior.
Building or expanding your address plan? Explore our IPv4/IPv6 Addresses Guide to choose the right ranges, plan subnets, and avoid conflicts as your network scales.
