IP - Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a packet-based protocol used to exchange data over computer networks. IP handles addressing, fragmentation, reassembly, and protocol multiplexing.
It is the foundation on which all other IP protocols, collectively referred to as the IP Protocol suite, are built (TCP, UDP, ICMP, ARP, etc.).
IP is a network-layer protocol that contains addressing and control information that allows data packets to be routed.