TCP/IP’s Architecture

A key part of understanding the distributed nature of TCP/IP is the realization that TCP/IP is a modular family of protocols, providing a wide range of highly segmented functions. TCP/IP is not a single monolithic protocol, but instead is a collection of protocols that range from application-specific functions like web browsing down to the low-level networking protocols like IP and TCP.

One common tool used for comparing different kinds of protocols is the OSI[2] Reference Model, which is a simplistic breakdown of networking functions from the physical wiring up to the applications that run on the network. By comparing TCP/IP to the OSI Reference Model, it is easier to understand how each of the major protocols interact with each other.


[2] OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnect, an alternate suite of network protocols.

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