What is the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)?

ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is a type of network protocol communicating error messages and operational data between network devices. ICMP is primarily associated with network diagnostics and troubleshooting. ICMP messages are typically generated in response to errors or exceptional conditions encountered during packet transmission, such as unreachable hosts, network congestion, or Time Exceeded messages. ICMP plays a vital role in network management, providing feedback on network health, connectivity issues, and potential security threats.