Classful Networking

Classful networking is an early method of IP address allocation used in computer networks. It divides IP addresses into five classes (A, B, C, D, and E) based on the size of the network and the number of hosts it can accommodate. Classes A, B, and C are for regular networking, with Class A supporting large organizations and Class C being suitable for smaller businesses. Class D is used for multicast groups, while Class E is reserved for experimental purposes. This system has largely been replaced by Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR), which offers more flexibility in IP address distribution.