Session Initiation Protocol
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an application-layer signaling protocol used to establish, modify, and terminate multimedia communication sessions over IP networks. It enables voice, video, messaging, and other real-time communication services, such as VoIP calls, video conferencing, and instant messaging. SIP operates independently of the underlying transport layer and integrates with other protocols like SDP for session description and RTP for media transmission.
Developers should learn SIP when building or maintaining real-time communication systems, such as VoIP applications, unified communications platforms, or video conferencing tools, as it provides a standardized way to manage sessions. It is essential for telecommunications, contact centers, and IoT devices requiring voice/video capabilities, offering interoperability and scalability in IP-based networks.