IP stands for “Internet Protocol” and plays a central role in the exchange of data between computers on the Internet. Each computer is given a unique IP address that allows it to be identified and send data packets to their destinations. This data is broken down into smaller units that find their way through different gateways, possibly taking different routes and arriving in a different order than they were sent.
IP works without a permanent connection between sender and receiver, with the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) having the actual task of putting the packets back in the correct order. IPv4 and IPv6 are the two main versions of IP, with IPv6 offering a larger number of available addresses to solve the problems with the limited number of IPv4 addresses.
The ongoing development of the Internet Protocol has helped to make addressing and establishing connections on the Internet more efficient. It has also created a sustainable solution to the increasing demand for Internet addresses.