January 1 TCP/IP

The new Google logo celebrates a milestone invention leading to the modern Internet.

January 1, 83 TCP/IP

This article gives a more in-depth look at what TCP/IP is. It was established as an ARPANET standard on January 1, 1983.

TCP/IP:
IP - is responsible for moving packet of data from node to node. IP forwards each packet based on a four byte destination address (the IP number). The Internet authorities assign ranges of numbers to different organizations. The organizations assign groups of their numbers to departments. IP operates on gateway machines that move data from department to organization to region and then around the world.

TCP - is responsible for verifying the correct delivery of data from client to server. Data can be lost in the intermediate network. TCP adds support to detect errors or lost data and to trigger retransmission until the data is correctly and completely received.

Sockets - is a name given to the package of subroutines that provide access to TCP/IP on most systems. (Yale.edu)

There are many layers built ontop of TCP/IP. And another protocol called UDP, which is predominatly used in games and other networking situations where low-latency is required is completely different.

The major layers on top of TCP/IP are:

HTTP: Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (for requesting webpages)
FTP: File Transfer Protocol (for uploading files to websites)
SMTP and POP3: For sending (SMTP) and receiving (POP3) e-mail
IRC: For chatting online

There are also many-non standard protocols built on top of TCP/IP. For instance, AOL Instant Messenger uses a third-party protocol to transfer chat messages between clients!