WHAT IS IP ?

IP stands for Internet Protocol

What is a Protocol?

A protocol is a set of standardized rules that define how data is transmitted and received between devices over a network. These rules ensure that hardware and software from different vendors can communicate effectively.

Before the adoption of standard models like the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, companies developed proprietary communication protocols, making interoperability difficult. For example, systems from IBM used to communicate only within their ecosystem and were incompatible with others like Windows or Linux.

The OSI model introduced a layered architecture that allows different devices and systems to interoperate, provided they follow the same communication standards—these standards are known as protocols.

What is an IP Address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a logical address used to identify devices on a network. It enables devices to communicate with each other across local or global networks.

There are two versions of IP addresses:

1. IPv4 and IPv6

   • IPv4 addresses use a dot (.) as a separator.

   • IPv6 addresses use a colon (:) as a separator.

Why IPv6?

IPv4 provides approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. Due to the rapid growth of internet-connected devices, IPv4 addresses are nearly exhausted.

IPv6 solves this limitation by supporting an almost infinite number of addresses—2¹²⁸ in total. IPv6 ensures scalability, security, and efficient routing for future internet growth.