Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

Addressing and reliable delivery

Data sent over the internet is split into small pieces called packets. IP (Internet Protocol) gives each packet a source and destination address so networks can send it to the right place. Packets may take different routes.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) keeps track of the exchange. If data goes missing, TCP sends it again and puts arriving pieces in order so an app can read the result.

What the shared name TCP/IP means

Web traffic such as HTTP often uses TCP with IP. A live call may use IP without TCP to avoid waiting for lost data. “TCP/IP” can also mean the wider family of rules that lets devices communicate across networks.