Internet Protocol

(IP) The network layer for the TCP/IP protocol suite widely used on Ethernet networks, defined in STD 5, RFC 791. IP is a connectionless, best-effort packet switching protocol. It provides packet routing, fragmentation and re-assembly through the data link layer.

IPv4 is the version in widespread use and IPv6 is just beginning to come into use in 2000.

[Other versions? Dates?]

(2000-12-19)