TCP is a connection-oriented protocol. This means that before any data can be sent, a connection must first be established between the sender and receiver. This connection ensures that the data is delivered reliably and in the correct order. However, it also makes TCP slower than UDP.
UDP is a connectionless protocol. This means that no connection is established before data is sent. This makes UDP faster than TCP, but it also means that there is no guarantee that the data will be delivered reliably or in the correct order.
Here is a table summarizing the key differences between TCP and UDP:
| Feature | TCP | UDP |
|---|---|---|
| Connection-oriented | Yes | No |
| Reliable | Yes | No |
| In-order delivery | Yes | No |
| Flow control | Yes | No |
| Broadcasting | No | Yes |
| Latency | Higher | Lower |
| Bandwidth | Lower | Higher |
| Use cases | File transfer, email, web browsing | VoIP, streaming, gaming |
In general, TCP is used for applications where reliability is important, such as file transfer and email. UDP is used for applications where speed is more important, such as VoIP, streaming, and gaming.
Here are some examples of applications that use TCP:
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
- HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
- SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
- POP (Post Office Protocol)
Here are some examples of applications that use UDP:
- DNS (Domain Name System)
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
- TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)
- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
- RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
- VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
