I2p-cp

Instructs the router to deliver a payload to a specific I2P Destination.

Notifies the client that a new message has been received from the network.

: The client application and the I2P router can reside on the same machine or different ones, communicating over a local or network socket. i2p-cp

: The client sends a protocol version byte (typically 0x2A ) to ensure compatibility.

I2CP operates as a message-based protocol, facilitating communication between two primary components: the (the application) and the Router (the I2P node). Instructs the router to deliver a payload to

: Since I2P is a packet-switched network where messages can be lost or delayed, I2CP is inherently asynchronous, allowing applications to manage their own reliability or use the built-in streaming library for TCP-like behavior. The Initialization Process

: The client requests the current network time from the router via GetDate and SetDate messages. : The client sends a protocol version byte

I2CP is essential for the I2P ecosystem because it provides a consistent API for various programming languages. While the primary I2P router is written in Java, I2CP allows clients written in C++, Python, or Go to interface with it seamlessly. This has enabled the integration of I2P into diverse projects, such as the Monero cryptocurrency for transaction privacy.