DEV Community

Cover image for TCP vs UDP Understanding the Differences
Eric Dequevedo
Eric Dequevedo

Posted on • Originally published at rics-notebook.com

TCP vs UDP Understanding the Differences

What is TCP? πŸ”—

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol. It is a connection-oriented
protocol that provides a reliable way to send data over a network. TCP
guarantees that all data will be delivered in the correct order and that no data
will be lost. TCP is often used for applications that require a reliable
connection, such as web browsing and email.

What is UDP? πŸ“¦

UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol. It is a connectionless protocol that
provides a faster way to send data over a network. UDP does not guarantee that
all data will be delivered or that it will be delivered in the correct order.
UDP is often used for applications that do not require a reliable connection,
such as streaming video and audio.

Comparison of TCP and UDP πŸ“Š

Feature TCP UDP
Connection-oriented Yes No
Data integrity Guaranteed Not guaranteed
Data ordering Guaranteed Not guaranteed
Flow control Yes No
Error detection Yes No
Retransmission Yes No
Typical use cases Web browsing, email Streaming video, audio

Which protocol should you use? πŸ€”

The best protocol to use depends on your specific needs. If you need a reliable
connection, then you should use TCP. If you need a faster connection and you
don't need a reliable connection, then you should use UDP.

Conclusion πŸŽ‰

TCP and UDP are both important protocols that are used to send data over a
network. TCP is a reliable protocol that guarantees that all data will be
delivered in the correct order. UDP is a faster protocol that does not guarantee
that all data will be delivered or that it will be delivered in the correct
order. The best protocol to use depends on your specific needs. Choose wisely!
πŸš€πŸ˜„

Top comments (0)