Which statement best describes IP (Internet Protocol)?

• A. A transport-layer protocol that guarantees reliable end-to-end delivery.
• B. A connectionless network-layer protocol that is responsible for sending data packets across a network.
• C. A software library used for database queries.
• D. A high-level language used for web scripting.

Answer: (B)

IP operates at the network layer and is responsible for delivering individual data packets from a source to a destination across one or more networks. It is connectionless, meaning no prior handshake or dedicated path is established before sending packets. Because of that design, IP does not guarantee delivery, ordering, or protection against loss; those reliability concerns are handled by higher-layer protocols such as TCP. IP uses addressing and routing to find paths through the network, and supports both IPv4 and IPv6. The other options describe things that are not IP: a transport-layer protocol that guarantees reliability is TCP, a software library for database queries is unrelated, and a high-level scripting language is a different domain altogether.