One of the reasons the Internet has become so popular is that all types of computers, UNIX based machines, PC's, Macs etc. can connect and share information.

This is possible because there are technical standards that dictate how computers on the Internet communicate with each other.

All computers on the Internet use a protocol called TCP IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). A Protocol is a set of rules which shows how computers communicate.

TCP/IP is the basic communication language or Protocol of the Internet. When you are set up with direct access to the Internet your computer is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP Program.

TCP/IP is a two layered program. The higher level (TCP) manages the assembling of a message or file into smaller packets that are transmitted over the Internet and received by a TCP layer that reassembles the packets into the original message.

The Lower layer (IP) handles the address part of each packet so that it gets to the right destination. Each gateway computer on the network checks this address to see where to forward the message. Even though some packets from the same message are routed differently than others they�ll be reassembled at the destination.

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