TCP/IP
The core set of rules that lets computers find each other and exchange data reliably across the internet, combining IP for addressing with TCP for ordered, error-checked delivery.
Full Definition
TCP/IP refers to the suite of protocols that forms the foundation of internet communication. IP (Internet Protocol) handles addressing and routing packets across networks. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) adds reliability on top: it establishes connections (three-way handshake), ensures packets arrive in order, requests retransmission of dropped packets, and provides flow control. HTTP, HTTPS, and most application protocols run over TCP/IP. SOCKS5 proxies tunnel TCP connections, and HTTP proxies relay TCP connections to web servers. Understanding TCP/IP is foundational to understanding how proxies work at the network level.
