from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Link State Routing Protocol
<networking, communications> A {routing} {protocol} such as
{OSPF} which permits routers to exchange information with one
another about the reachability of other networks and the cost
or metric to reach the other networks.
The cost/metric is based on number of {hops}, link speeds,
traffic congestion, and other factors as determined by the
network designer. Link state routers use {Dijkstra's
algorithm} to calculate shortest (lowest cost) paths, and
normally update other routers with whom they are connected
only when their own routing tables change.
Link state routing is an improvement over {distance-vector
routing} protocols such as {RIP} which normally use only a
single metric (such as hop count) and which exchange all of
their table information with all other routers on a regular
schedule. Link state routing normally requires more
processing but less transmission overhead.
(2000-03-14)