Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is an IP link state routing protocol. Link state routers exchange information about the state of their network connections or links. Using this information, each router can construct the topology of the internetwork, and from that derive a routing table consisting of the most efficient paths between devices.
OSPF offers the following advantages over IP RIP:
Faster convergence of router information tables
First hand routing information
Generates less traffic
No count-to-infinity problem