Internet Protocols: A Set of Rules Governing Communication Across the Internet

Running head: Internet protocols 1
Name
Institution
Date

Internet protocols 2
Executive summary
Internet protocols are a set of rules governing communication of devices across the
Internet and networks. There are several protocols today the most popular being the transmission
control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). Internet protocols are a part of the “communication”
over the Internet working to ensure that people send and receive messages using their devices
(Laser, 2013). Communication over the Internet also depends on various factors like IP
addresses, communication media, ports. All these factors (devices, networks, protocols,
communication channels) are interrelated to make the Internet what it is. The Internet is an
interesting tool that is of great importance to us in our day to day lives forming an integral part of
our mundane lives.

Internet protocols 3
Internet protocol are the set of rules governing communication through the Internet i.e. an
internet protocol defines the method of sending data from one device to another through the
Internet. Protocols govern the rules of semantics, syntax, and timing (speed matching and
sequencing) over communication channels. Protocols are implemented by hardware, software or
a combination of hardware/software. Today, there are several protocols available that are used in
communications. Some of these protocols include transmission control protocol/internet protocol
(TCP/IP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), address resolution protocol (ARP), dynamic host
configuration protocol (DHCP), file transfer protocol (FTP), domain name system (DNS),
internet control message protocol (ICMP) just to mention a few. Of interest in this paper is the
TCP/IP protocol, how it works and its application over the internet.
The TCP/IP protocol is a layered protocol used to determine the communications
standards over the Internet (Stallings, 2014) i.e. it specifies how data is exchanged over the
Internet by breaking down the data into packets, determining addressing, transmission, routing
and how it is received at the destination. The TCP/IP protocol is used in communications
between applications, computers/devices, and networks. This is made possible by dividing the
tasks (transfer of data from one application to another) into layers i.e. application layer, transport
layer, Internet layer and link layer. The application layer specifies the logic that supports the
various user applications like file transfer. Transport layer determines access to data and routing
of data where devices may be attached to different networks. Internet layer is responsible for the
exchange of data between the devices (server-user). Link layer determines the physical interface
between a communication device e.g. a workstation and the transmission medium or the
network.