Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Internet Protocol (IP) - TCP/IP

The Internet protocol suite is the conceptual model and set of communications protocols used in the Internet and similar computer networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP because the foundational protocols in the suite are the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). The Internet protocol suite provides end-to-end data communication specifying how data should be packetized, addressed, transmitted, routed, and received. This functionality is organized into four abstraction layers, which classify all related protocols according to the scope of networking involved. From lowest to highest, these are: 1. Link Layer. This layer contains communication methods for data that remain within a single network segment (link). 2. Internet Layer. Provides internetworking between independent networks. 3. Transport Layer. Handles host-to-host communication 4. Application Layer. Provides process-to-process data exchange for applications. The technical standards underlying the Internet protocol suite and its constituent protocols are maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The Internet protocol suite predates the OSI model, a more comprehensive reference framework for general networking systems.