What is the difference between TCP and UDP protocols?

What is the difference between TCP and UDP protocols?

When it comes to computer networks, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are two key protocols used for communication between devices. Here are some key differences between TCP and UDP:

• Connection: TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means that it establishes a connection before sending data. UDP, on the other hand, is connectionless and does not require a connection to be established before sending data.
• Reliability: TCP is reliable as it ensures delivery of data by retransmitting lost packets and ensuring that data is received in order. UDP, however, does not guarantee delivery or order of data packets.
• Speed: UDP is faster than TCP as it does not have the overhead of establishing and maintaining connections or ensuring reliability.
• Usage: TCP is commonly used for applications that require reliable, error-checked communication such as web browsing, email, and file transfer. UDP is often used for real-time applications like video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP where speed is more important than perfect reliability.

In summary, TCP is reliable but slower, while UDP is faster but less reliable. The choice between TCP and UDP depends on the specific needs of the application and the trade-offs between reliability and speed.