What is the standard protocol used by the Internet that turns data into packets?

The standard protocol that turns data into packets is the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). This suite of protocols is fundamental to the functioning of the Internet. It serves as the communication language for computers, ensuring that data is broken down into manageable packets for transmission over a network.

TCP/IP does several essential tasks: it segments and reassembles data, manages error checking, and provides addressing information to ensure packets are routed correctly to their destination. When data is sent, TCP divides it into packets, and each packet is then transmitted across the network using IP, which handles the routing of those packets to the appropriate location.

The other options serve different purposes. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is specifically designed for transferring files between computers, while Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is primarily used for transferring web pages. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is focused on sending and routing emails. These protocols are important in their own right but do not perform the function of turning data into packets. Thus, TCP/IP is uniquely positioned as the foundational protocol that ensures data is correctly packaged and transmitted across the Internet.