Difference Between TCP and UDP: TCP vs UDP Explained

Difference Between TCP and UDP: TCP vs UDP Explained

TCP and UDP are two important transport-layer protocols used for communication across computer networks and the Internet. TCP focuses on reliable and ordered delivery of data, while UDP provides a simpler connectionless method with lower overhead.

Whenever computers, smartphones, servers and other devices communicate over a network, data has to be transported from one endpoint to another. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are two of the most commonly used transport-layer protocols.

Although both TCP and UDP are used to transport data, they work differently. Understanding the difference between TCP and UDP is important for computer networking, operating systems, Internet technologies and networking examinations.

Table of Contents

• What Is TCP?
• What Is UDP?
• Difference Between TCP and UDP
• TCP vs UDP Comparison Table
• Connection-Oriented vs Connectionless
• TCP vs UDP Reliability
• TCP vs UDP Speed
• Applications of TCP and UDP
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Real-World Examples
• Frequently Asked Questions

Transmission Control Protocol(TCP)

Transmission Control Protocol(TCP) is a connection-oriented, end-to-end reliable protocol designed to fit into a layered hierarchy of protocols which support multi-network applications.the primary purpose of the TCP is to provide reliable, securable logical circuit or connection service between pairs of nodes.
following are some functions that are performed by TCP–>
i)Basic Data Transfer:-TCP is responsible to transfer a continuous stream of octets in each direction between its users by packaging some number of octets into segments for transmission through the internet system. TCPs decide when to block and forward data at their own convenience.
ii)Reliability:-The TCP  recovers data that is damaged, lost, duplicated, or delivered out of order by the internet communication system. To do so a sequence number to each octet transmitted, and requiring a positive acknowledgment (ACK) from the receiving TCP. If the ACK is not received within a timeout interval, the data is retransmitted. At the receiver, the sequence numbers are used to correctly order segments that may be received out of order and to eliminate duplicates. Damage is handled by adding a checksum to each segment transmitted, checking it at the receiver, and discarding damaged segments.