The Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance-vector routing protocol used in local and wide area networks. It helps routers communicate with each other to determine the best path for data packets. RIP uses hop count as its metric, where each hop represents a router that data must pass through. The maximum number of hops allowed in RIP is 15, making it suitable for smaller networks.
RIP operates by sending updates at regular intervals, allowing routers to share their routing tables. This ensures that all routers have the most current information about the network topology. While simple and easy to configure, RIP is less efficient than more advanced protocols like Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) or Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).