The Internet Protocol (IP) is the principal communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries. Its routing function enables internetworking, and essentially establishes the Internet.
IP has the task of delivering packets from the source host to the destination host solely based on the IP addresses in the packet headers. For this purpose, IP defines packet structures that encapsulate the data to be delivered. It also defines addressing methods that are used to label the datagram with source and destination information.
So what is a network, A network is basically the infrastructure that allows you to transfer information between devices located near each other.
Like in a store or far from each other in different geographical locations in otherwards its the link between your camera and monitor that allows you to watch and control the video that your camera captures.