Routing Protocol

What Does Routing Protocol Mean?

A routing protocol uses software and routing algorithms to determine optimal network data transfer and communication paths between network nodes. Routing protocols facilitate router communication and overall network topology understanding.

Techopedia Explains Routing Protocol

Most Internet Protocol (IP) networks use the following routing protocols:

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP): These provide interior gateway routing through path or distance vector protocols.

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF): This provides interior gateway routing through link-state routing protocols.

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) v4: This provides public Internet routing protocol through exterior gateway routing

Related Reading

An Introduction to the OSI Model

Margaret Rouse

Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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