What Is Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)?

People may have heard that the internet is a mysterious, magical box. They are correct, but they are different from the way they mean. There is no box to open. It means there is no one place you can go to find all the internet. Instead, it's like a series of intersecting networks that work together to make up the whole thing. One of those networks is Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). It is the language your computer uses to talk to the internet; it's a suite of protocols designed to establish a network of networks so your computer can access the internet. TCP/IP is like a four-layer cake: it's got layers, and they're all delicious. The first layer is responsible for establishing a connection between two devices. It also provides addressing and mapping functions. The second layer ensures data gets from one end to the other without problems. It also handles acknowledgments, which are like, "Hey! We got your data!" The third layer allows different protocols to be implemented within the same network layer. You can simultaneously use other communication protocols (like HTTP, FTP, etc.)! The fourth layer supports applications and services (like web browsing). The way we see it, TCP is like an excellent waiter. He checks you in, makes sure you get to your table, and then keeps an eye on you the whole time you eat. He's there to ensure everything is going smoothly and correct any mistakes that might happen along the way. The waiter is also responsible for ensuring you have everything you need, like extra napkins or a fork, and you can take advantage of everything necessary around the restaurant. At the end of the meal, he will check with you before leaving to ensure everything is satisfactory. Just like that waiter, TCP provides that your message gets delivered correctly while keeping track of all its parts and ensuring nothing goes missing in transit so it can be reassembled into its original form at its destination point.