The underlying technology of Internet communications. While IP handles the actual delivery of data, TCP tracks the data packets to efficiently route a message through the Internet. Every computer in a TCP/IP network has its own IP address that is either dynamically assigned at startup (See DHCP) or permanently assigned as a static address. All TCP/IP messages contain the address of the destination network, as well as the address of the destination station. This enables TCP/IP messages to be transmitted to multiple networks (subnets) within an organization or worldwide. For example, when a user downloads a web page, TCP divides the page file on the web server into packets, numbers the packets, and forwards them individually to the user's IP address. The packets may be routed along different paths before reaching the user's address. At the destination, TCP reassembles the individual packets, waiting until they have all arrived to present them as a single file. (See IP, IP address, Packet, TCP).