3.7. Loop Avoidance

RPL tries to avoid creating loops when undergoing topology changes and includes Rank-based data-path validation mechanisms for detecting loops when they do occur (see Section 11 for more details). In practice, this means that RPL guarantees neither loop-free path selection nor tight delay convergence times, but it can detect and repair a loop as soon as it is used. RPL uses this loop detection to ensure that packets make forward progress within the DODAG Version and trigger repairs when necessary.