What type of protocol is OSPF?

OSPF, which stands for Open Shortest Path First, is classified as a link-state routing protocol. This means that OSPF routers maintain comprehensive information about the network topology, allowing them to make more informed routing decisions compared to distance vector protocols.

In a link-state protocol like OSPF, each router sends link-state advertisements (LSAs) to all other routers in the same OSPF area. These LSAs contain information about the router's interfaces and their current status, enabling all routers to build a synchronized and complete view of the network. This allows routers to compute the shortest path to each destination using Dijkstra's algorithm, ensuring efficient and optimal routing.

The characteristics of link-state protocols, such as faster convergence and improved accuracy by using a complete view of the network, set them apart from other routing methods, making OSPF particularly well-suited for large and complex networks.