OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol used in IP networks. It calculates the most efficient paths for routing IP packets within an autonomous system (AS). OSPF uses Dijkstra's algorithm to determine the shortest path. It supports a hierarchical structure with areas for improved scalability. OSPF uses a cost-based metric to determine the best path. It provides fast convergence, authentication, and security features. OSPF supports VLSM and CIDR, and it is widely interoperable among networking vendors.