TCP vs UDP Protocol Differences | Generated by AI
Yes, you’ve got it exactly right! Let me clarify the key differences:
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - Connection-oriented:
- Establishes a connection before sending data (like a “handshake”)
- Sends packets and waits for acknowledgements from the receiver
- If acknowledgement isn’t received, it resends the packet
- Guarantees delivery and correct order of packets
- Like sending a registered letter where you get a receipt confirmation
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - Connectionless:
- No connection establishment - just sends packets directly
- No acknowledgements - fire and forget
- No guarantee that packets arrive or arrive in order
- Much faster because there’s less overhead
- Like dropping a postcard in the mailbox without tracking
Use cases:
- TCP: Web browsing, email, file transfers - anything where you need reliable delivery
- UDP: Video streaming, online gaming, voice calls - where speed matters more than perfect delivery (a few lost packets won’t ruin the experience)
So yes, your understanding is correct - the main difference is that TCP has that acknowledgement/confirmation mechanism, while UDP just sends the data once without checking if it arrived!