TCP vs UDP Stateless vs Stateful Delivery
TCP and UDP are the two main transport-layer protocols, each suited to different use cases. TCP provides ordered, reliable, connection-oriented delivery using its three-way handshake, while UDP offers low-latency, connectionless transmission. Understanding when to use each is essential for CompTIA Network+, CCNA, and systems design interviews where protocol trade-offs are frequently tested.
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5 CardsName three applications that use UDP.
What is TCP flow control?
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What is the main difference between TCP and UDP?
TCP is connection-oriented and reliable, using acknowledgments and retransmissions to ensure delivery. UDP is connectionless and faster, sending datagrams without confirmation.
- TCP: reliable, ordered, heavier overhead
- UDP: fast, lossy-tolerant, minimal overhead
When should you use UDP instead of TCP?
Use UDP when low latency matters more than reliability — such as live video, DNS queries, or online gaming. TCP is preferred for file transfers, emails, and web pages where data integrity is critical.
Does UDP have error checking?
UDP includes a checksum field in its header for basic error detection, but it does not retransmit lost or corrupted packets. Error recovery must be handled by the application layer if needed.