TCP/IP
Transmisssion Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, TCP/IP is a set of
rules (protocols) governing communications among all
computers on the Internet. More specifically, TCP/IP dictates how information
should be packaged (turned into bundles of information called packets),
sent, and received, as well as how to get to its destination. TCP/IP was
developed in 1978 and driven by Bob
Kahn and Vint Cerf.
How does TCP/IP work?
As
the name implies, TCP/IP is a combination of two separate protocols:
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
and Internet Protocol (IP). The Internet Protocol standard dictates
the logistics of packets sent out over networks; it tells packets where to go
and how to get there. IP has a method that lets any computer on the Internet
forward a packet to another computer that is one or more intervals closer to
the packet's recipient. You can think of it like workers in a line passing
boulders from a quarry to a mining cart.
The
Transmission Control Protocol is responsible for ensuring the reliable
transmission of data across Internet-connected networks. TCP checks packets for
errors and submits requests for re-transmissions if any are found.
Three of the most common TCP/IP protocols
- HTTP - Used between a
web CLIENT and
a web server, for non-secure data
transmissions. A web client (i.e. Internet browser on a computer) sends a
request to a web server to view a web page. The web server receives that
request and sends the web page information back to the web client.
- HTTPS - Used between a
web client and a web server, for secure data transmissions. Often used
for sending credit card transaction data or other private data from a web
client (i.e. Internet browser on a computer) to a web server.
- FTP - Used between
two or more computers. One computer sends data to or receives data from
another computer directly.
Domain names and TCP/IP addresses
The
TCP/IP address for a website or web server is typically not easy to remember.
To remedy this issue, a domain
name is used instead.
For example, 45.79.151.23 is the IP address for the Computer
Hope website and computerhope.com is the domain name. Using this method,
instead of a set of numbers, makes it much easier for users to
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