Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol (IP) is the principal communications protocol in the Internet Protocol Suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries. Its routing function enables internetworking, and essentially establishes the Internet. IP is responsible for delivering packets from the source host to the destination host based on the IP Address. Detailed specifications and standards are maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
There are two primary versions of the protocol currently in use: IPv4, which uses a 32-bit addressing scheme, and IPv6, which utilizes 128-bit addresses to provide a significantly larger address space. According to Britannica, the Internet Protocol functions at the Network Layer within the OSI Model. It often works in conjunction with the Transmission Control Protocol to ensure reliable data transmission across a Packet Switched Network.