title: IP Header: Total Length vs. Internet Header Length
body: <p>I have some questions w.r.t. the ip header.</p>
  
  <p>If I am correct, the total length field shows the length of the overall packet. The internet header length (ihl) shows the length of the header and whether options are set or not.</p>
  
  <p>My question is why the ihl field is needed if there is the total length field that shows the total length?</p>
  
  <p>Regards</p>