What does the 'MF bit' in the IPv4 header stand for?

The 'MF bit' in the IPv4 header stands for "More Fragments". This bit is part of the Flags field in the IPv4 header, specifically used in the context of IP packet fragmentation. When an IP packet is too large to be transmitted over a network segment, it needs to be fragmented into smaller pieces. The MF bit indicates whether there are more fragments of a packet that follow the current fragment.

If the MF bit is set to 1, it signifies that there are additional fragments that need to be reassembled to complete the original packet. If it is set to 0, it indicates that this fragment is the last one, and no further fragments will follow. This functionality is crucial for proper packet reconstruction at the destination, allowing the receiving host to know how many fragments to expect and when it has received the complete original packet.