As the name implies, Voice over IP refers to calls that traverse networks using Internet Protocol (IP) -or to use laymans Broadband. The voice stream is broken down into packets, compressed, and sent toward its final destination by various routes (as opposed to establishing a single, 'permanent' connection for the duration of the call like a traditional phone line), depending on the most efficient path (this varies from call to call). At the other end, the packets are reassembled, decompressed, and converted back into a voice stream by various hardware and software elements, depending on the nature of the call and its final destination.