SLIP is short for serial line internet protocol, which is a method for connecting to the Internet. PPP is short for Point-to-Point Protocol, another method of Internet connection. They both permit data communication via a transient dial-up connection of via a dedicated point-to-point connection. PPP is the more stable of the two protocols and provides more error checking features. SLIP is an older and simpler protocol. Practically, however, there is little difference between SLIP and PPP in connecting to the Internet.

With SLIP, the establishment and breaking of links is done manually. PPP accomplishes linkage automatically. PPP was proposed as a standard to replace SLIP in 1990, in recognition of its improved features.

SLIP preceded PPP as a means of relaying Internet Protocol (IP) packets of information over dial-up lines (where the connection between the...