What is the value of the IPv4 header 'Protocol' field for UDP?

The value of the IPv4 header 'Protocol' field for UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is 17. In the context of the IPv4 protocol header, the 'Protocol' field is used to indicate the encapsulated protocol used in the data portion of the IP datagram.

Each protocol is assigned a specific number, and for UDP, that number is 17. This value helps routers and other networking devices understand how to handle the data contained within the packet. When an IP packet is received, the device checks the Protocol field to determine whether it should process the packet as UDP, TCP, ICMP, or another higher-level protocol.

Understanding these protocol numbers is crucial for network administrators and engineers, as it allows for effective traffic analysis and troubleshooting within IP-based networks.