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Concept

Core Internet Protocols

Network communication relies on foundational protocols operating at different layers:

  • IP (Internet Protocol): Delivers packets from source to destination based on IP addresses using best-effort delivery, offering no inherent guarantees regarding packet arrival or sequence.
  • TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): Provides reliable, ordered delivery. It assigns numbers to data segments, tracks receipts with acknowledgments, and retransmits lost packets. It is suited for applications requiring high accuracy, such as web pages, email, and file transfers.
  • UDP (User Datagram Protocol): Provides fast, lightweight transmission without guarantees of delivery or ordering, making it ideal for time-sensitive traffic like live video streaming, voice calls, and online gaming.
  • Application Protocols: HTTP and HTTPS govern web data exchange between clients and servers, where HTTPS wraps HTTP traffic in TLS encryption. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns IP addresses to devices as they connect to a network.

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Updated 2026-09-04

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Prep Sessions

Demystifying Network Architecture: Protocols, Addressing, and Packet Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.1 Network Models and Architecture - Demystifying Network Architecture: Protocols, Addressing, and Packet Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Fundamentals of Computer Networks - Demystifying Network Architecture: Protocols, Addressing, and Packet Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor