The Difference Between TCP and UDP in Computer Networks

When comparing TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) in terms of connection-oriented and connectionless communication, the key differences lie in how they handle data transmission:

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

• Connection-Oriented: TCP establishes a connection between the sender and receiver before data transfer begins. It ensures reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data.
• Reliable: TCP guarantees delivery of data packets without loss or duplication. It also resends any lost packets and reorders out-of-sequence packets.
• Slower: Due to the overhead of establishing a connection and ensuring reliability, TCP is generally slower than UDP.
• Used for: Applications that require high reliability and data integrity, such as web browsing, email, and file transfer.

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

• Connectionless: UDP does not establish a connection before data transfer. It sends data packets without acknowledgment or error-checking.
• Unreliable: UDP does not guarantee delivery of data packets, and there is a possibility of loss or duplication. Applications must handle error detection and correction.
• Faster: Without the overhead of connection establishment and error-checking, UDP is faster than TCP.
• Used for: Real-time applications that prioritize speed over reliability, such as video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP.

Ultimately, the choice between TCP and UDP depends on the specific requirements of the application in terms of reliability, speed, and data integrity.