Does the Internet Protocol (IP) guarantee delivery of packets?

The Internet Protocol (IP) is classified as a best-effort delivery protocol, meaning it does not guarantee the successful delivery of data packets. Instead of ensuring that packets arrive at their destination without errors or in the order they were sent, IP simply attempts to send the packets. If packets are lost, duplicated, or delivered out of order, IP does not provide mechanisms to address these issues.

The design of IP prioritizes simplicity and speed over reliability. This is aligned with its role in the larger framework of the internet, where higher-layer protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), are responsible for ensuring reliable communication by handling errors, retransmissions, and ordering of packets. Thus, while IP is crucial for routing data, it inherently lacks the features necessary to guarantee delivery, which is why best-effort is the correct characterization.