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TCP/IP Introduction

TCP/IP is the communication protocol used for the Internet.

Computer Communication Protocol

A computer communication protocol is a description of the rules that computers must follow to communicate with each other.

What is TCP/IP?

TCP/IP is the communication protocol for communication between computers connected to the Internet.

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol.

TCP/IP defines the standard for how electronic devices (such as computers) connect to the Internet and how data is transmitted between them.

Inside TCP/IP

TCP/IP includes a series of protocols for handling data communication:

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - Communication between applications
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - Simple communication between applications
IP (Internet Protocol) - Communication between computers
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) - For errors and status
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - For dynamic addressing

TCP Uses a Fixed Connection

TCP is used for communication between applications.

When an application wishes to communicate with another application via TCP, it sends a communication request. This request must be sent to an exact address. After a "handshake" between the two parties, TCP will establish a full-duplex communication between the two applications.

This full-duplex communication will occupy the communication line between the two computers until it is closed by one or both parties.

UDP is similar to TCP but simpler and less reliable than TCP.

IP is Connectionless

IP is used for communication between computers.

IP is a connectionless communication protocol. It does not occupy the communication line between the two communicating computers. This way, IP reduces the demand on network lines. Each line can simultaneouslymeet the communication needs of many different computers.

Through IP, messages (or other data) are broken into small, independent packets and transmitted between computers over the Internet.

IP is responsible for routing each packet to its destination.

IP Router

When an IP packet is sent from a computer, it arrives at an IP router.

The IP router is responsible for routing this packet to its destination, either directly or through other routers.

In the same communication, the path taken by one packet may be different from that of others. The router is responsible for correct addressing based on traffic, errors in the network, or other parameters.