how is IP related to TCP in the TCP/IP protocol stack?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Answer:
IP (Internet Protocol) and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) are two different but complementary protocols in the TCP/IP protocol stack. IP is responsible for addressing and routing packets between devices across networks, while TCP provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications running on these devices.
Explanation:
The TCP/IP protocol stack is a layered model used to enable communication over the internet and other networks. TCP and IP are two key protocols within this stack, working together but serving distinct roles.
IP operates at the Internet layer (or Network layer) of the stack. Its primary function is to deliver packets of data from the source host to the destination host based on their IP addresses. IP handles logical addressing, fragmentation, and routing, ensuring data can traverse multiple networks to reach its destination. However, IP itself is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery, ordering, or error correction. It simply routes packets independently, which may result in packets arriving out of order, duplicated, or even lost.
TCP, on the other hand, operates at the Transport layer, which is one level above IP. TCP establishes a connection between the sender and receiver before any data is transmitted. It provides reliable communication by managing the sequence of data packets, ensuring that they are received in the correct order, retransmitting lost packets, and performing error-checking. TCP segments data from applications into manageable pieces, attaches headers with control information, and passes these segments down to IP for actual transmission.
The relationship between TCP and IP is often described as TCP running “on top of” IP. When an application wants to send data, TCP breaks it into segments, adds reliability features, and hands it to IP. IP then routes the segments through the network to the destination, where TCP on the receiving end reassembles the segments, checks for errors, and delivers the data to the receiving application.
Together, TCP and IP form the foundation of the Internet protocol suite, enabling robust, scalable, and reliable communication across diverse and interconnected networks.