STP

Spanning tree protocol (STP) was developed based on the 802.1d standard of IEEE to eliminate loops at the data link layer in a LAN. Networks often have redundant links as backups in case of failures, but loops are a very serious problem. Devices running STP detect loops in the network by exchanging information with one another. They eliminate loops by selectively blocking certain ports to prune the loop structure into a loop-free tree structure. This avoids proliferation and infinite cycling of packets that would occur in a loop network.

In a narrow sense, STP refers to IEEE 802.1d STP. In a broad sense, STP refers to the IEEE 802.1d STP and various enhanced spanning tree protocols derived from that protocol, such as RPVST and MSTP.