The Basics of Internet Protocols

In basic terms we see that internet protocols are agreements which dictate how data is to be packaged, addressed, sent and received. They see to it that your message gets to the right place, in the right order, and also that it has the proper level of security. Without them, devices wouldn’t communicate, and the internet as we know it just wouldn’t come to be. We will go over the basic elements of these protocols, what value they add, and how all together they play a role in keeping the world connected.

What Are Internet Protocols?

At their base, internet protocols are rules which enable computers and devices to connect over a network. They give form to what would otherwise be random strings of digital info.

To think of it, picture this: a very full meeting of people from all over the world, speaking different languages. If they don’t have a common set of rules to follow, communication breaks down. Protocols solve that for machines. They see to it that devices which may be from any company and which may be in any part of the world, play by the same digital ‘rules of the game.’

These protocols do not work in isolation; instead they are put together in layers. Each layer has a specific task which may range from getting data to move via cables to making a web page show up in your browser. As a whole these layers make up what we know as the TCP/IP model which in turn is the base structure of the modern internet.

The Internet Protocol (IP): Digital Addressing System.

It issues addresses to devices and transfers data packets from one address to another.

Every time you connect a device to the internet—your phone, laptop, or that smart speaker you got for Christmas—that device gets a unique IP address. Think of it as a digital street address which allows that info to find them across the web.

There are two primary versions of IP

• IPv4: A 32-bit system with 4.3 billion unique addresses. It has been the base of the internet for decades, but now we are seeing it run out of space.
• IPv6: Uses a pool of 128 bits that is almost unlimited for address supply. It was put in to handle the growth of worldwide connected devices.

Today we have both IPv4 and IPv6 in use but the internet is moving toward IPv6 for future growth.

TCP and UDP: Between quality and speed.

If we have IP for address assignment, then we have TCP for data transfer. What TCP does is it sees to it that data which is put out there is what comes back at the receiver in full and in the right order. It does this by establishing a path between devices, breaking data up into packets, and at the end reassembling them at the destination. Also if something is lost or damaged in the transfer TCP will request that it be sent again. This reliability is what we see in web browsing, email, and file download.

On another note, in case of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) it puts forward a different method. It does away with the checks to just send out packets as fast as possible. We have no assurance that all will arrive, but that is okay for applications that live in the moment, like live video, online gaming, and voice calls. Maybe a few packets drop off which we don’t notice, but we can’t stand delay.

HTTP and HTTPS: The Web’s Language.

Whenever, at the drop of a hat, you put a web address into your browser you are in fact using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This protocol in turn defines how exactly browsers and the servers communicate in order to bring up the site.

The improved version of the protocol is HTTPS, at which point your data is encrypted. That which you send out—for example login info or payment data—is jumbled up so that only the intended recipient can make sense of it. Also at present the great majority of sites have shifted over to HTTPS in order to secure users’ data and increase trust.

Email Protocols: SMTP, IMAP, and POP3.

Email is a very old internet service which is still very much in use today and it has its own set of protocols:

• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): Transfers email between servers.
• IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol): Gives you access to messages from the server and also keeps all of your data in sync across devices.
• POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3): Fetches e-mails from the server to your device for offline access.

These together ensure that emails reach all over the world and still get to the right inbox.

DNS: Converting names to numbers.

Humans do well at memorizing names but not strings of numbers which is what the Domain Name System (DNS) is for.

When you enter example.com what you are doing is asking a DNS server to translate that name into the corresponding IP address. Once we have the IP our computer knows right where to send the request. Without DNS we would have to memorize long number addresses for each and every site we visit.

FTP and SSH: Transferring and Handling Data.

Also see File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Secure Shell (SSH).

FTP was an early method of file transfer between computers on the internet. Although it has fallen out of use for the average user, it is still used by many organizations for server file management.

SSH is a tool which admins use to control servers from a distance. It also encrypts data which in turn protects sensitive info while you run commands over the internet.

Why Protocols Work Together

No single protocol is a jack of all trades. Rather they work as a team.

Loading a site is like this:

1. DNS converts web address to IP number.
2. IP sends the request to the proper server.
3. TCP guarantees dependability in communication.
4. HTTP and HTTPS serve the page content.

In the blink of an eye this collaboration takes place, but should it not occur the internet would break down.

Why Standards Matter

In many ways what makes internet protocols so powerful is that they are standardized. Global organizations such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) see to it that these rules are agreed upon and put in use all over the world.

For instance your phone can join a foreign Wi-Fi network, your laptop can access a server which is on the other side of the globe, and your messages can travel to the recipient in real time regardless of what devices you are using or what service providers you are with.

If every company did what they pleased, the internet would be a chaotic mess. Standardization is what keeps it one worldwide system.

The Evolution of Protocols

The internet is in a constant state of change as are its protocols which grow to meet new needs:

• Security enhancements, which brought us HTTPS and better encryption.
• Scalability problems pushed for the adoption of IPv6.
• Faster browsing and streaming which is what saw the development of protocols like QUIC which improves on TCP.

These updates see to it that the internet is able to manage billions of devices, growing amounts of data, and also the greater demand for security.

Wrapping Up

Internet protocols may not be something that the public thinks about, but they are in fact the unseen rules that enable our digital existence. What they do is that they determine how data is put together, which path it takes, speed of its travel, and if it is secured during the journey. From IP addresses to secure web connections, each protocol plays a role in the big picture.

Each time you share a message, join a video chat, or hit refresh on a page, those protocols are out there working—they are the behind the scenes players that keep the internet running smoothly. Out of sight, out of mind, but without them the internet would fall apart. Grasping the basics of what they do gives you a better picture of the complex systems which run the digital world we live in daily.