Internet Protocol

What is Internet Protocol (IP)

 Internet Protocol (IP) is the method or protocol by which

data is sent from one computer to another on the internet.
Each computer -- known as a host -- on the internet has at
least one IP address that uniquely identifies it from all
other computers on the internet.
IP is the defining set of protocols that enable the modern
internet. It was initially defined in May 1974 in a paper
 titled, "A Protocol for Packet Network
Intercommunication," published by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers and authored by 
Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn.
At the core of what is commonly referred to as IP are
additional transport protocols that enable the actual
communication between different hosts. One of the core
protocols that runs on top of IP is the Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP), which is often why IP is also
referred to as TCP/IP. However, TCP isn't the only
protocol that is part of IP.
How does IP routing work

 When data is received or sent -- such as an email or a webpage -- the message is

divided into chunks called packets. Each packet contains both the sender's internet
address and the receiver's address. Any packet is sent first to a gateway computer
that understands a small part of the internet. The gateway computer reads the
destination address and forwards the packet to an adjacent gateway that in turn
reads the destination address and so forth until one gateway recognizes the packet
as belonging to a computer within its immediate neighborhood -- or domain. That
gateway then forwards the packet directly to the computer whose address is
specified.
Because a message is divided
into a number of packets, each
packet can, if necessary, be
sent by a different route across
the internet. Packets can arrive
in a different order than the
order they were sent. The
Internet Protocol just delivers
them. It's up to another protocol
-- the Transmission Control
Protocol -- to put them back in
the right order.
 IP packets

 While IP defines the protocol by which data moves

around the internet, the unit that does the actual
moving is the IP packet.
 An IP packet is like a physical parcel or a letter with
an envelope indicating address information and the
data contained within.
An IP packet's envelope is called the
header. The packet header provides the
information needed to route the packet to its
destination. An IP packet header is up to 24
bytes long and includes the source IP
address, the destination IP address and
information about the size of the whole
packet.
The other key part of an IP packet is the
data component, which can vary in size.
Data inside an IP packet is the content that
is being transmitted.
What is an IP address

 IP provides mechanisms that enable different systems to connect to

each other to transfer data. Identifying each machine in an IP
network is enabled with an IP address.
 Similar to the way a street address identifies the location of a home
or business, an IP address provides an address that identifies a
specific system so data can be sent to it or received from it.
An IP address is typically assigned via the DHCP
 (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). DHCP can
be run at an internet service provider, which will
assign a public IP address to a particular device. A
public IP address is one that is accessible via the
public internet.

A local IP address can be generated via DHCP

running on a local network router, providing an
address that can only be accessed by users on the
same local area network.
 What is IPv4

IPv4 stands for Internet Protocol version 4. It is the

underlying technology that makes it possible for us to
connect our devices to the web. Whenever a device
accesses the Internet, it is assigned a unique, numerical IP
address such as 99.48.227.227. To send data from one
computer to another through the web, a data packet must
be transferred across the network containing the IP
addresses of both devices.
What is IPv6

 IPv6 is the next generation Internet Protocol (IP) address standard

intended to supplement and eventually replace IPv4, the protocol
many Internet services still use today. Every computer, mobile
phone, home automation component, IoT sensor and any other
device connected to the Internet needs a numerical IP address to
communicate between other devices. The original IP address scheme,
called IPv4, is running out of addresses due to its widespread usage
from the proliferation of so many connected devices.
 Benefits of IPv6

 Auto-configuration
 No more private address collisions
 Simpler header format
 Simplified, more efficient routing
REFERENCES

 .techtarget.com/definition/Internet-Protocol
 https://www.google.com/search?q=internet+protocol+pdf&rlz=
1C1CHBF_enIN956IN956&ei=m-r2YKTGHeWT4