Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

Which term defines an addressing system used by the Internet for locating entities?

1. Domain Name

2. Internet Protocol

3. Routing

4. Bandwidth

The correct answer is: Internet Protocol

The term that defines an addressing system used by the Internet for locating entities is the Internet Protocol (IP). IP provides a set of rules for addressing and routing packets of data so they can travel across the network and reach the correct destination. Each device on the internet is assigned a unique IP address, which serves as its identifier, allowing data to be sent to the appropriate address amidst millions of devices. While domain names are user-friendly representations of these IP addresses, they are not the addressing system itself but rather a layer on top that translates easier-to-remember names into IP addresses. Routing refers to the process of determining the best path through which to send packets of data between networks but does not define the addressing system itself. Bandwidth measures the capacity of a network to transmit data, rather than serving as an addressing mechanism. Thus, Internet Protocol is the fundamental system that provides the structure for identifying and locating entities on the Internet.