What does the acronym IPv4 stand for?

The acronym IPv4 stands for Internet Protocol version 4. This version of the Internet Protocol is one of the core protocols for the operation of the internet, responsible for addressing and routing packets of data so that they can travel across networks. IPv4 was introduced in the early 1980s and continues to be widely used, even as newer versions like IPv6 have been developed to address issues such as the limited number of available IP addresses in IPv4.

In summary, IPv4 specifically refers to the fourth version of the Internet Protocol, marking it as a distinct and critical foundation for networking as we know it today.