Internet Protocol (IP) are the rules for routing the data. Just like you have to address a letter, each packet must contain the recipient’s IP address. Let’s use an analogy. TCP is a warehouse worker in charge of packaging merchandise. The network packets are the packages. The IP address is the address where the package gets delivered, and IP is the shipper who is in charge of addressing the packets and sending them off on the appropriate route.
TCP breaks data down into small pieces called network packets, then hands the packets over to IP