Difference between TCP and UDP
The two distinct transport protocols used in computer networks are TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). The key variations between them are as follows:
TCP establishes a reliable link between the sender and destination before transferring data since it is a connection-oriented protocol. On the other hand, UDP doesn't create a specific connection and is connectionless. Every UDP packet is handled as a separate data unit.
TCP offers dependable and well-organized data delivery. It ensures that any data transmitted from one end will reach the other end without loss, duplication, or error. TCP will retransmit any lost packets if they occur during transmission. Reliability cannot be guaranteed using UDP. It lacks facilities for flow control, retransmission, or error detection. As a result, UDP packets could be duplicated, dropped, or delivered out of order.
Packet structure: To govern the connection, provide flow control, and guarantee dependability, TCP adds extra headers to the data packets. With less overhead, UDP has a simpler packet form. It merely contains the source and destination ports, the size of the packet, and an error-checking checksum.
Speed: When it comes to transmission speed, UDP beats TCP. Due to its shorter latency and quicker data transmission, UDP does not require the overhead of connection formation and dependability procedures. TCP is slower than UDP but more dependable due to its added features.
Applications: TCP is frequently used for web browsing, email, file transfer (FTP), and database communication, all of which call for dependable and well-organized data delivery. For real-time applications like video streaming, online gaming, DNS (Domain Name System), and Voice over IP (VoIP) services, where speed and low latency are essential, UDP is employed.
The TCP protocol includes flow control and congestion control techniques to regulate data transmission rates and avoid network congestion. Depending on the state of the network, it modifies the transmission speed. Neither flow control nor congestion control are inherent to UDP.
In conclusion, while UDP offers faster but less reliable and unordered data communication without a connection overhead, TCP delivers reliable and ordered data transport with connection management. The precise needs of the application and the weight given to elements like dependability, speed, and overhead determine whether TCP or UDP should be used.
