More On TCP/IPTCP/IP
actually divides the message up into smaller parts or
packets and
puts an address on each packet. The
router
sends each packet to the destination computer, but each packet may not take
the same path to get to the destination computer. This method allows the
entire message to be delivered much more quickly to the destination computer.
Splitting up the message into packets is called
packet switching.
The destination computer reassembles the packets into the complete message.
If it finds an error in the message, it can ask the sending computer to resend
the bad packet.