Understanding the Protocol Field in the IPv4 Header: Importance and Function

What IPv4 header field identifies the upper layer protocol carried in the packet?

 

The IPv4 header field that identifies the upper layer protocol carried in the packet is called the “Protocol” field.

This field is located in the IPv4 header and is 8 bits long. It specifies the protocol number of the next header after the IPv4 header.

The value in the Protocol field indicates the type of data that follows the IPv4 header. For example, if the Protocol field contains the value 6, it indicates that the next header is a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) segment. If the Protocol field contains the value 17, it indicates that the next header is a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) segment.

The Protocol field is crucial for the proper delivery of packets in the network. It allows the receiving network devices to identify the appropriate protocol handler to process the packet’s payload.

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