Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

What is the primary purpose of Internet Protocol (IP)?

1. To secure data transmissions

2. To provide addressing for paths to computers

3. To encode data for transmission

4. To manage network traffic

The correct answer is: To provide addressing for paths to computers

The primary purpose of Internet Protocol (IP) is to provide addressing for paths to computers. IP is a fundamental protocol used in the Internet and other networks, enabling devices to identify and communicate with one another. Each device connected to a network is assigned a unique IP address, which serves as a location identifier, allowing data packets to route through different networks effectively to reach their destination. In this context, IP operates at the network layer of the Internet Protocol Suite and is essential for the delivery of packets between source and destination addresses. By using IP addresses, the protocol ensures that data packets can find their way across various interconnected networks, enabling seamless communication. While other options touch on important aspects of networking, such as securing data, encoding, or managing traffic, these functionalities are typically handled by different protocols or systems that work alongside IP. For example, security may involve protocols like HTTPS or TLS, and traffic management might be handled by Quality of Service (QoS) protocols. Therefore, the correct choice emphasizes the unique role of IP in establishing the addressing scheme crucial for finding paths to computers on a network.