[Lenay Nichols]

TCP/IP is the foundational set of rules that allows computers and devices to communicate across networks and the internet. It defines how data is packaged, addressed, transmitted, and received so information can travel from one device to another successfully. The TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) focuses on reliability. It breaks data into smaller packets, sends them across the network, and confirms that all pieces arrive correctly and in the proper order. If data is lost along the way, TCP handles retransmitting it. Whereas, the IP or Internet Protocol, handles addressing and routing. It assigns source and destination addresses to data packets so they know exactly where to go, similar to how a street address works in real life. When you put these two together, TCP/IP provides a reliable way for devices to communicate over networks and the internet. Because of this, devices with different hardware and operating systems can still exchange information, which is what enables reliable communication across the internet.