What is the function of IGMP in networking?

The function of IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) in networking is to report multicast group memberships. IGMP is a communication protocol used by hosts and adjacent routers on IP networks to establish and control multicast group memberships. Multicast allows one sender to send data to multiple recipients simultaneously, which is efficient for applications like video streaming and online gaming.

When a host wants to join a multicast group, it sends an IGMP membership report to inform the local router that it wishes to receive packets for that specific multicast address. The router, in turn, uses this information to manage the delivery of multicast traffic to only those hosts that have expressed interest, thus optimizing network resources.

The other options do not accurately reflect the function of IGMP. Maintaining web page data pertains more to HTTP and web servers, facilitating file transfers is associated with protocols like FTP, and creating Internet standards is a role typically handled by organizations like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), not by IGMP. Thus, the correct answer precisely captures IGMP's role in managing multicast group memberships within a network.