TCP & UDP

TCP & UDP are two types of protocols used in communication between two or more computers (or other devices) over the internet. TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, and it is a connection-oriented protocol. This means that a connection is established and maintained until the application programs at each end have finished exchanging messages. It is reliable and requires acknowledgement from the receiver. TCP is often used for web browsing, email, file transfer, and streaming media. UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol, and it is a connectionless protocol. This means that each data packet is sent independently and is not required to be acknowledged. It is faster, but not as reliable as TCP. UDP is often used for real-time applications like video conferencing and online gaming where speed is more important than reliability. An example of the difference between TCP and UDP would be a user downloading a movie via Netflix. The TCP protocol would be used, as it is reliable and will ensure that the entire movie is downloaded correctly. On the other hand, if the user is playing an online game that requires quick responses, the UDP protocol would be used as it is faster and more efficient. Fun Fact: The TCP & UDP protocols are part of the Internet Protocol Suite, commonly known as TCP/IP.