TTL (Time to Live)

Time to Live (TTL) is a value in data packet headers that controls how long the packet can exist in a network before being discarded. Think of it like a countdown timer: each router the packet passes through decreases the TTL by one. When TTL reaches zero, the packet is removed to prevent it from circulating endlessly. This mechanism helps maintain efficient data flow, avoids network congestion, and ensures outdated or looping packets don't persist. Essentially, TTL manages the lifespan of data packets across the internet or networks.