What does "IP" stand for?

IP stands for Internet Protocol, the network layer protocol in the TCP/IP architecture. The purpose of designing IP is to improve the scalability of the network: first, to solve the Internet problem and realize the interconnection and interoperability of large-scale, heterogeneous networks; and second, to split the coupling relationship between the top layer network applications and the bottom layer network technology, in order to facilitate the independent development of the two. According to the end-to-end design principle, IP only provides a connectionless, unreliable, best-effort packet transmission service for hosts.