Internet Protocol (IP) addresses

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique identifier assigned to each device connected to a network, enabling communication between devices on the internet or a local network. Much like a home address helps in identifying the location of a house, an IP address ensures that data sent across the internet reaches the correct destination. IP addresses are categorized into two main types: IPv4, which uses a 32-bit format (e.g., 192.168.1.1), and IPv6, which employs a 128-bit format for greater scalability (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). They can also be classified as static (permanently assigned to a device) or dynamic (temporarily assigned by a network). IP addresses are essential for routing data packets, enabling seamless communication between computers, servers, smartphones, and other internet-enabled devices, forming the backbone of modern digital connectivity.

Transmitting Data

When we sent data across the internet, it can use different routes to get same destination.

But how does this happen?

Before data is sent over the Internet, it is split up into packets. Packets are small chunks of data. They are usually all the same size. For Example:

In this example, the message is split into three packets with nine characters in each one. The number of characters and packets may be different each time.

Advantages and Disadvantages of packets

Using packets has the following advantages.

• If a packet is lost, a computer only needs to resend a small bit of data again.
• Packets do not take up as much bandwidth, so they can be sent along a greater variety of connections.
• Smaller packets are less likely to get delayed along a network.

As well as the data being sent, each packet contains extra pieces of information. This information is needed by the device which receives the  data packets. These extra pieces of information include:

• the IP address that the packet was sent from
• the IP address that the packet is being sent to
• the number of the packets that is being sent.

There some disadvantages to using packets.

• The extra information that each packet needs means you use more data in total to sent something.
• You need all of the packets to arrive before you can read the data that was sent.

What happens if packets are lost?

When packets are lost on the internet, it means that small chunks of data being transmitted between devices fail to reach their destination. This can happen for various reasons, such as network congestion, faulty hardware, or unstable connections. As a result, the information becomes incomplete or corrupted, leading to delays, dropped calls, buffering during streaming, or even disconnections in online services. Packet loss is typically measured as a percentage, with higher values indicating a more significant problem. Fixing packet loss often involves troubleshooting network equipment, checking cables, or adjusting settings to improve overall connection stability.