# IP Precedence

IP precedence is a method to assign priority to data packets by using part of the [Type of Service](/glossary/i/ip_tos) field in the IP datagram header.

With IP precedence, the first three bits of the TOS field is used to provide one of eight possible precedence values.

^ Binary ^ Value ^ Priority ^
| 000 | (0) | Routine |
| 001 | (1) | Priority |
| 010 | (2) | Immediate |
| 011 | (3) | Flash |
| 100 | (4) | Flash Override |
| 101 | (5) | Critical |
| 110 | (6) | Internetwork Control |
| 111 | (7) | Network Control |