Which option correctly expands the acronym DHCP?

• A. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
• B. Dynamic Host Control Protocol
• C. Distributed Host Configuration Protocol
• D. Dynamic Hardware Configuration Protocol

Answer: (A)

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. The idea tested here is recognizing what each word in the acronym means in networking. Dynamic means the IP address and other settings are assigned automatically and can change over time rather than being fixed manually. Host refers to the client device that receives these settings. Configuration describes the set of network parameters provided to the host, such as IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers. Protocol indicates this is a defined set of rules that governs how the client and server communicate to obtain those settings. The other options don’t fit because they replace one of the terms with an incorrect meaning—Control implies management rather than automatic configuration, Distributed suggests spreading settings rather than a standard process, and Hardware points to physical devices rather than the configuration mechanism.