What metric does the Routing Information Protocol (RIP) use?

The Routing Information Protocol (RIP) utilizes hop count as its metric for determining the best path for routing packets. In the context of RIP, a hop is defined as any router that a packet must pass through. RIP counts each hop as a single unit, with a maximum allowable limit of 15 hops. This limit helps to prevent routing loops and keep the network topology manageable.

The use of hop count makes RIP straightforward and easy to understand, but it may not always reflect the most efficient route in terms of latency, bandwidth, or other factors that could affect the performance of the path. Therefore, while hop count serves as a simple metric, it may not always optimize for the best throughput or response time in network communications.