ip
The ip command is a Linux utility for managing network interfaces, routing tables, and other network configuration tasks, replacing the older ifconfig tool. It is part of the iproute2 package and provides a unified interface for controlling various aspects of the network stack, including IP addresses, ARP cache, and tunnels. It is widely used by system administrators and developers for network troubleshooting and configuration in Linux environments.
Developers should learn the ip command when working with Linux systems, especially for tasks like configuring network interfaces, setting up routing, or debugging network issues in servers, containers, or embedded devices. It is essential for DevOps roles, cloud infrastructure management, and any scenario requiring precise control over network settings, such as in virtual machines or Kubernetes clusters, due to its modern and feature-rich capabilities compared to deprecated tools.