The TCP/IP Protocol Architecture
TCP/IP defines a large collection of protocols that allow computers to communicate. Table 1.1 outlines the protocols and the TCP/IP architectural layer to which they belong. TCP/IP defines the details of each of these protocols in Requests For Comments (RFC) documents. By implementing the required protocols defined in TCP/IP RFCs, a computer that implements the standard networking protocols defined by TCP/IP can communicate with other computers that also use the TCP/IP standards.
| TCP/IP Architecture Layer | Protocols |
| Application | HTTP, POP3, SMTP |
| Transport | TCP, UDP |
| Inter network | IP |
| Network interface | Ethernet, Frame Relay |
TABLE 1.1: The TCP/IP Architectural Model and Protocols