DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, which is a network management protocol used to automatically assign and manage IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network. DHCP makes it easier to manage a large network by centrally managing and distributing IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, DNS server addresses, and other network configuration parameters to devices on the network.
When a device connects to a network that uses DHCP, it sends a broadcast request to obtain an IP address and other configuration parameters such as DNS and gateway IP addresses. A DHCP server then responds with an available IP address and associated configuration parameters. The device can then use the assigned IP address to communicate with other devices on the network.