Routing Protocol for Lowpower and Lossy Networks (RPL) can be used for routing on Internet of Things (IoT) networks. RPL is an IP version 6 (IPv6) routing protocol that is defined in Request for Comments (RFC) 6550. An IoT network is considered to be a Low-power and Lossy Network (LLN). IoT networks connect embedded devices. Embedded devices, or smart objects, are typically low power, low memory devices with limited processing capabilities.
These devices are used in a variety of applications, such as environmental monitoring, healthcare monitoring, process automation, and location tracking. Many embedded devices can transmit data wirelessly, and some are capable of transmitting over a wired connection. However, connectivity is generally unreliable and bandwidth is often constrained.

IoT networks require a routing protocol that can handle the limitations of embedded devices. Neither Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS), nor Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) meets the requirements for routing an IoT network, as specified by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Routing over LLNs (ROLL) working group. In addition to RPL, IPv6 over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN) and Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) have been created to address the challenges of routing an IoT network.