Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - A standard protocol that allows computers to attach to a network and retrieve a temporary IP address from a pool of IP addresses maintained on a DHCP server. The computer may then communicate with other systems over a standard TCP/IP network while it is logged on. DHCP has other functions as well, such as loading initial code for the system, but is most known for providing temporary IP addresses.

DHCP is a successor to an older protocol called BOOTP, used for the same thing. BOOTP is fully supported by DHCP in order to support older clients that don't have DHCP.