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TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is a suite of communication protocols that enables computers to exchange data over a network, including the internet. It defines how data is broken into packets, addressed, transmitted, routed, and reassembled at the destination. TCP handles reliable data transfer and error-checking, while IP is responsible for unique addressing and routing of data packets.

Key components of TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): Ensures that data is delivered reliably and in the correct order by creating a connection between the sender and receiver. It manages the flow of data and re-sends packets that are lost or corrupted.

Internet Protocol (IP): Assigns a unique address to each device on a network and is responsible for the actual delivery of data packets from the source to the destination. It is concerned with getting the packets to the correct address but not with ensuring their order or completeness.

Other protocols: TCP/IP also includes other protocols like User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is a faster but less reliable alternative to TCP often used for streaming, and Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), used for network diagnostics.