According to Google the internet is a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols. Cloudflare defines a protocol as a set of rules for formatting and processing data. Internet protocols are like a common language for computers. There are many protocols that enable the transfer of information. We would consider just this few here:

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP is an application layer protocol designed to transfer information between networked devices. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the foundation of the World Wide Web, and is used to load webpages using hypertext links. Development of HTTP was initiated by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1989. The main function of HTTP is to provide a system of rules facilitating the exchange of information over the internet. It allows a person to type a URL into their browser and gain access to the respective website's data.

Basic Aspects of HTTP

• It is simple:- HTTP is generally designed to be simple and human-readable.
• It is stateless but not sessionless:- The core of HTTP itself is stateless, however HTTP cookies allow the use of stateful sessions.
• It is extensible:- New functionality can be introduced by a simple agreement between a client and a server.

HTTP Methods

GET

The GET method requests a representation of the specified resource. Requests using GET should only retrieve data.

POST

The POST method submits an entity to the specified resource, often causing a change in state or side effects on the server.

PUT

The PUT method replaces all current representations of the target resource with the request content.

PATCH

The PATCH method applies partial modifications to a resource.

DELETE

The DELETE method deletes the specified resource.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

According to Google FTP is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of files from one host to another over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP works by opening two connections that link the computers trying to communicate with each other.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is an Internet standard communication protocol for electronic mail transmission. Mail servers and other message transfer agents use SMTP to send and receive mail messages.

Conclusion

Internet Protocols serve a significant purpose in communicating between servers and clients.