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P4 is a high-level programming language used to define packet forwarding policies in network switches. It was designed by a team at Stanford University and released as open source in early 2014. P4 programs are compiled into switch-specific bitcode, which can be loaded onto the target device and executed. This bitcode can be generated using a reference P4 compiler, or a third-party compiler that targets a specific switch architecture. P4 offers a high degree of flexibility in how packets are processed, making it well-suited for implementing new protocols and features in network switches. It also supports a rich set of control and dataplane abstractions, which can be used to optimize switch performance and improve programmability. P4 has been gaining traction in the industry, with a number of major vendors investing in its development. In 2016, the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) formed the P4 Language Consortium to promote the adoption of P4 and foster its further development.