Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Enhance your readiness for the AP Computer Science exam with insightful quizzes. Deepen your understanding and master key concepts as you prepare for a successful test experience!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What describes the Internet Protocol hourglass model?

A layered protocol with varied interfaces
A single protocol for all internet applications
A model with no intermediary layers
A straightforward packet-switching method

The correct answer is: A layered protocol with varied interfaces

The Internet Protocol hourglass model is characterized as a layered protocol with varied interfaces. This model visualizes the structure of the internet as a metaphorical hourglass, where the top part represents a broad set of application protocols that serve different purposes, like HTTP for web browsing or FTP for file transfer. As you move down the hourglass, these application protocols converge to use a common set of underlying protocols such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which handle data transport. The narrow waist of the hourglass indicates that these transport protocols interact directly with the Internet Protocol (IP), which is responsible for addressing and routing packets across the network. This design allows for many different types of applications to communicate over the same underlying network infrastructure, promoting compatibility and interoperability. This is why describing it as a layered protocol with varied interfaces accurately reflects the functionality and organization of internet protocols, enabling diverse applications to function while relying on a consistent foundational layer.