Junior

How does TCP differ from UDP?

sobes.tech AI

Answer from AI

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are two main transport layer protocols in a network.

Main differences:

Reliability:
- TCP provides reliable data delivery — guarantees that all packets arrive and in the correct order.
- UDP does not guarantee delivery or order — packets may be lost or arrive out of order.
Connection:
- TCP is connection-oriented (handshake) before data transfer.
- UDP is connectionless.
Speed:
- TCP is slower due to error checking and acknowledgments.
- UDP is faster, suitable for applications where speed is more important than complete reliability (e.g., streaming, gaming).
Flow and congestion control:
- TCP has mechanisms for flow and congestion control.
- UDP does not have such mechanisms.

Example of use: