| .. _prefixes: |
| |
| Prefixes |
| ^^^^^^^^ |
| |
| Some nomenclature used to describe prefixes: |
| |
| * 1.1.1.1 This is an address since it has no associated mask |
| * 1.1.1.0/24 This is a prefix. |
| * 1.1.1.1/32 This is a host prefix (the mask length is the size of the address). |
| |
| Prefix A is more specific than B if its mask length is longer, and less specific if |
| the mask is shorter. For example, 1.1.1.0/28 is more specific than 1.1.1.0/24. A |
| less specific prefix that overlaps with a more specific is the **covering** prefix. |
| For example, 1.1.1.0/24 is the covering prefix for 1.1.1.0/28 and 1.1.1.0/28 is termed |
| the **covered** prefix. A covering prefix is therefore always less specific than its |
| covered prefixes. |