What Does DHCP Stand For?

DHCP is a computer term which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.

It is part of the TCP/IP protocol stack that enables a network to assign a temporary IP address to a computer, or host, automatically when the host connects to the network.
This is an advantage over previous methods of IP addressing which are known as static IP addressing.

With DHCP, administrators are able to centralise and automate the allocation of IP addresses by the use of a DHCP server. This server has a range of addresses that it hands out to hosts.

With static IP addressing, an administrator must manually configure a host's IP address, which takes time. It also promotes the likelihood of human error, as if two hosts are accidentally given the same IP address, then one or neither of them will be able to function on the network.

Whilst it is advisable to use DHCP on any network, it is worth realising that there are certain types of routers and servers that must be assigned a static IP address but these can function within a DHCP environment.