RFC Explained

RFC 791 is a document that details the specifications of the Internet Protocol (IP). It was originally written in 1981 and describes how IP functions to deliver packets of data called datagrams from one computer to another across a network of interconnected systems. It also defines key aspects of IP, such as addressing, which provides a method for identifying and locating computers, and fragmentation, which allows large datagrams to be divided into smaller pieces for transmission over networks with limited capacity. The document explains how gateways forward datagrams between networks and how IP interacts with other protocols, such as TCP and UDP. RFC 791 provides a comprehensive guide to the technical details of IP and its role in the internet’s foundational architecture.