TCP and UDP Fundamentals
Differentiate between TCP (reliable, connection-oriented) and UDP (unreliable, connectionless) and understand their respective use cases for applications.
Meet TCP and UDP
When data travels across a network, it uses different rules or 'protocols'. At the Transport layer of the TCP/IP model, two main protocols handle how applications send and receive data: TCP and UDP.
They both move data, but they do it in fundamentally different ways, each suited for specific tasks.
TCP: The Reliable Partner
TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol. Think of TCP as a very careful post office that guarantees your letter will arrive, in order, and without errors.
- It's connection-oriented: A connection must be established before data is sent.
- It's reliable: It guarantees delivery of data.
- It ensures ordered data transfer and error checking.
All lessons in this course
- Understanding TCP/IP Model
- IP Addressing & Subnetting
- TCP and UDP Fundamentals
- ICMP and the Role of Ping and Traceroute