DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration to devices. Without DHCP, every device would need to be manually configured with an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway and DNS server.
When a device connects to a network, DHCP uses a 4-step process called DORA:
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) eliminates the need to manually configure IP addresses on every device in a network. When a device connects, it goes through the DORA process (Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge) to receive an IP address, subnet mask, gateway and DNS server automatically. DHCP is used in home routers, corporate networks and ISP infrastructure. For devices that need a consistent IP (servers, printers, NAS), a DHCP reservation assigns a fixed IP based on the device's MAC address.