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DEFINITION

What is TCP/IP?
By Kinza Yasar, Technical Writer Mary E. Shacklett, Transworld Data
Amy Novotny, Senior Managing Editor

u
 TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and is a
suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on
o
the internet. TCP/IP is also used as a communications protocol in a private
i computer network -- an intranet or extranet.

n
The entire IP suite -- a set of rules and procedures -- is commonly referred
to as TCP/IP. TCP and IP are the two main protocols, though others are
included in the suite. The TCP/IP protocol suite functions as an abstraction
layer between internet applications and the routing and switching fabric.

TCP/IP specifies how data is exchanged over the internet by providing end-
to-end communications that identify how it should be broken into packets,
addressed, transmitted, routed and received at the destination. TCP/IP
requires little central management and is designed to make networks
reliable with the ability to recover automatically from the failure of any
device on the network.

Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) is the primary version used on the

internet today. However, due to a limited number of addresses, a newer
protocol known as IPv6 was developed in 1998 by the Internet Engineering
:
 Task Force (IETF). IPv6 expands the pool of available addresses from IPv4
significantly and is progressively being embraced.

How are TCP and IP different?

The two main protocols in the IP suite serve specific functions and have
numerous differences. The key differences between TCP and IP include
the following:

TCP

It ensures a reliable and orderly delivery of packets across networks.

TCP is a higher-level smart communications protocol that still uses IP

as a way to transport data packets, but it also connects computers,
applications, web pages and web servers.

TCP understands holistically the entire stream of data that these assets
require to operate and it ensures the entire volume of data needed is
sent the first time.

TCP defines how applications can create channels of communication

across a network.

It manages how a message is assembled into smaller packets before

they're transmitted over the internet and reassembled in the right order
at the destination address.

TCP operates at Layer 4, or the transport layer, of the Open Systems

Interconnection (OSI model).

TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means it establishes a

connection between the sender and the receiver before delivering data
to ensure reliable delivery.

As it does its work, TCP can also control the size and flow rate of data.
It ensures that networks are free of any congestion that could block the
receipt of data. An example is an application that wants to send a large
amount of data over the internet. If the application only used IP, the
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 data would have to be broken into multiple IP packets. This would
require multiple requests to send and receive data, as IP requests are
issued per packet.

With TCP, only a single request to send an entire data stream is

needed; TCP handles the rest.

TCP runs checks to ensure data is delivered. It can detect problems

that arise in IP and request retransmission of any data packets that
were lost.

TCP can reorganize packets so they're transmitted in the proper order.

This minimizes network congestion by preventing network bottlenecks
caused by out-of-order packet delivery.

IP

IP is a low-level internet protocol that facilitates data communications

over the internet.

IP delivers packets of data that consist of a header, which contains

routing information, such as the source and destination of the data and
the data payload itself.

It defines how to address and route each packet to ensure it reaches

the right destination. Each gateway computer on the network checks
this IP address to determine where to forward the message.

IP is limited by the amount of data it can send. The maximum size of a

single IP data packet, which contains both the header and the data, is
between 20 and 24 bytes. This means that longer strings of data must
be broken into multiple data packets that have to be sent independently
and then reorganized into the correct order.

It provides the mechanism for delivering data from one network node to
another.

IP operates at Layer 3, or the network access layer, of the OSI model.

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 IP is a connection-less protocol, which means it doesn't guarantee
delivery nor does it provide error checking and correction.

Other components in a TCP/IP network

Other components present in a TCP/IP network include subnet masks,
network address translation (NAT) and various protocols.

A subnet mask tells a computer, or other network device, what portion of

the IP address is used to represent the network and what part is used to
represent hosts, or other computers, on the network. A NAT is the
virtualization of IP addresses. It helps improve security and decrease the
number of IP addresses an organization needs.

Common TCP/IP protocols include the following:

Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTP handles the communication

between a web server and a web browser.

HTTP Secure. HTTP Secure handles secure communication between a

web server and a web browser.

File Transfer Protocol. FTP handles transmission of files between

computers.

Domain name system. DNS translates domain names into IP

addresses.

Simple mail transfer protocol. SMTP is used for email

communications and is responsible for the transmission of emails
between mail servers.

User datagram protocols. UDP is a connectionless protocol that offers

faster but less dependable data delivery. It's widely used in real-time
applications such as video streaming and online gaming.

What is TCP/IP? An Introduction Updated for 2024

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 What is TCP/IP? An Introduction Updated for 2024

How does TCP/IP work?

TCP/IP uses the client-server model of communication in which a user or
machine -- a client -- is provided a service, such as sending a webpage, by
another computer -- a server -- in the network.

Collectively, the TCP/IP suite of protocols is classified as stateless, which

means each client request is considered new because it's unrelated to
previous requests. Being stateless frees up network paths so they can be
used continuously.

The transport layer itself, however, is stateful. It transmits a single message

and its connection remains in place until all the packets in a message have
been received and reassembled at the destination.

The TCP/IP model differs slightly from the seven-layer OSI networking
model designed after it. The OSI reference model defines how applications
can communicate over a network.

Why is TCP/IP important?

TCP/IP is the fundamental protocol suite that enables data transfer and
communication across the internet and other networks. It's nonproprietary
and, as a result, isn't controlled by any single company. Therefore, the IP
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 suite can be modified easily. It's compatible with all operating systems
(OSes), so it can communicate with any other system. The IP suite is also
compatible with all types of computer hardware and networks.

TCP/IP is highly scalable and, as a routable protocol, can determine the

most efficient path through the network. It's widely used in current internet
architecture.

The 4 layers of the TCP/IP model

TCP/IP functionality is divided into the following four layers, each of which
includes specific protocols:

1. Application layer. The application layer is the top layer and provides
applications with standardized data exchange. Its protocols include
HTTP, FTP, Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3), SMTP, DNS, Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol and SNMP. At the application layer, the payload
is the actual application data.

2. Transport layer. The transport layer is responsible for maintaining end-

to-end communications across the network. TCP handles
communications between hosts and provides flow control, multiplexing
and reliability. The transport protocols include TCP and User Datagram
Protocol (UDP), which is sometimes used instead of TCP for special
purposes.

3. Internet layer. The internet layer, also called the network layer, deals
with packets and connects independent networks to transport the
packets across network boundaries. The network layer protocols are IP
and Internet Control Message Protocol, which are used for error
reporting.

4. Network link layer. The network link layer, also known as the network
interface layer or data link layer, consists of protocols that operate only
on a link -- the network component that interconnects nodes or hosts in
:
 the network. The protocols in this lowest layer include Ethernet for local
area networks and Address Resolution Protocol.

Uses of
TCP/IP
w TCP/IP can be
used for the
following tasks:

Remote login
and interactive
file transfer.
TCP/IP provides
remote login over
the network for
interactive file
transfer to deliver
email and

k The four layers of the TCP/IP model.

webpages over
the network.

Remote access to a file system. TCP/IP provides remote access to a

server host's file system, enabling users to access and manage files
stored on the server from a remote location.

Represents information flow. TCP/IP is used to represent how

information changes form as it travels over a network from the concrete
physical layer to the abstract application layer. It details the basic
protocols, or methods of communication, at each layer as information
passes through.

End-to-end data transmission. It outlines how end-to-end

communications should be achieved by dividing data into packets,
addressing them, transmitting them, routing them and receiving them at
:
 the destination.

Cloud computing. TCP/IP is used in cloud computing to facilitate

communication between cloud-based services, applications and virtual
machines. TCP/IP ensures that cloud resources and clients
communicate reliably and securely across the internet.

Pros and cons of TCP/IP

The advantages of using the TCP/IP model include the following:

It helps establish a connection between different types of computers.

It works independently of the OS.

TCP/IP supports many routing protocols.

It uses a client-server architecture that's highly scalable.

TCP/IP can be operated independently.

It supports several routing protocols.

It's lightweight and doesn't place unnecessary strain on a network or

computer.

The disadvantages of TCP/IP include the following:

It's complicated to set up and manage.

The transport layer doesn't guarantee the delivery of packets.

It isn't easy to replace protocols in TCP/IP.

It doesn't clearly separate the concepts of services, interfaces and

protocols, so it isn't suitable for describing new technologies in new
networks.

It's especially vulnerable to synchronization attacks, which are a type of

denial-of-service attack in which a bad actor uses TCP/IP.
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 TCP/IP model vs. OSI model
TCP/IP and OSI are the most widely used communication networking
protocols. The main difference between the two models is that OSI is a
conceptual model that isn't practically used for communication. Rather, it
defines how applications can communicate over a network. TCP/IP, on the
other hand, is a practical execution that's widely used to establish links and
network interaction.

The TCP/IP protocols lay out standards on which the internet was created,
while the OSI model provides guidelines on how communication must be
done. Therefore, TCP/IP is a more practical model.

The TCP/IP and OSI models have similarities and differences. The main
similarity is in the way they're constructed to both use layers, although
TCP/IP consists of just four layers, while the OSI model consists of the
following seven layers:

Layer 7: the application layer, lets the user -- software or human --

interact with the application or network when the user wants to read
messages, transfer files or engage in other network-related activities.

Layer 6: the presentation layer, translates or formats data for the

application layer based on the semantics or syntax that the app
accepts.

Layer 5: the session layer, sets up, coordinates and terminates

conversations between apps.

Layer 4: the transport layer, transfers data across a network and

provides error-checking mechanisms and data flow controls.

Layer 3: the network layer, moves data into and through other
networks.

Layer 2, the data link layer, handles problems that occur as a result of
bit transmission errors.
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 Layer 1: the physical layer, transports data using electrical, mechanical
or procedural interfaces.

The application

w layer is the upper

layer for both the
TCP/IP model
and the OSI
model. Although
this layer
performs the

k The differences between TCP/IP and OSI model.

same tasks in
each model,
those tasks can vary depending on the data each receives.

The functions performed in each model are also similar because each uses
a network layer and transport layer to operate. The TCP/IP and OSI
models are each mostly used to transmit data packets. Although they use
different means and different paths, they still reach their destinations.

The similarities between the TCP/IP model and the OSI model include the
following:

They're both logical models.

They define networking standards.

They divide the network communication process into layers.

They provide frameworks for creating and executing networking

standards and devices.

They enable one manufacturer to make devices and network

components that can coexist and work with the devices and
components made by other manufacturers.
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 The differences between the TCP/IP model and the OSI model include the
following:

TCP/IP uses just one layer -- the application layer -- to define the
functionalities of the upper layers, while OSI uses three layers --
application, presentation and session.

TCP/IP uses one layer -- the physical layer -- to define the

functionalities of the bottom layers, while OSI uses two layers --
physical and data link.

The TCP/IP header size is 20 bytes, while the OSI header is 5 bytes.

TCP/IP is a protocol-oriented standard, whereas OSI is a generic model

based on the functionalities of each layer.

TCP/IP follows a horizontal approach, while OSI follows a vertical

approach.

In TCP/IP, the protocols were developed first and then the model. In
OSI, the model was developed first and then the protocols in each layer
were developed.

TCP/IP helps establish a connection between different types of

computers, whereas OSI helps standardize routers, switches,
motherboards and other hardware.

The history of TCP/IP

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the research branch of
the U.S. Department of Defense, created the TCP/IP model in the 1970s
for use in ARPANET, a wide area network that preceded the internet.
TCP/IP was originally designed for the Unix OS, and it has been built into
all the OSes that came after it.

The TCP/IP model and its related protocols are now maintained by the
IETF.
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 Protocols are the building block of networks. Discover the roles and
functionalities of the most used network protocols.

This was last updated in September 2024

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:
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