Table of Contents
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP),User Datagram Protocol(UDP)TCP vs. UDPAdvantages to using TCPAdvantages for using UDPDisadvantages using TCPDisadvantages using UDP
TCP and UDP are communication protocols that allow entities to send data through any physical entity. It specifies the syntax, rules and semantics for communications. These protocols are layered to create a protocol stack that allows the creation of a single protocol. The Open System Interconnection model (OSI), however, defines seven communication layers.

The Transport layer will include the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), and the User Datagram Protocol(UDP). This allows transparent data transfer from the source host to destination host.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), is a protocol that provides reliable, scalable and end-to-end data streams over a network. It provides data delivery services with an error detection and recovery mechanism. TCP allows you to create virtual networks from multiple computers connected to the network.
These are the features of TCP:
Reliable Data Delivery
Acknowledgement of End-to-End Delivery
Routable Protocol
Re-transmission
It is easy to spot errors
User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
User Datagram Protocol (UDP), is a datagram protocol associated with a packet switched network. It is used to transmit multicast and broadcast networks. Although UDP is not reliable, it uses IP services to provide the best delivery method.
These are the features of UDP:
Supports bandwidth-intensive applications that can tolerate packet loss
Sends more packets and less delay
Allows for small transactions
Data delivered quickly over the internet
TCP vs. UDP
Let’s compare TCP and UDP.
TCPUDPTCP is a program that reads data in a stream of bytes. It then transmits the message to segment boundaries.
Here are some of the benefits of TCP:
TCP is used to connect two systems.
It supports many routing protocols
Operates independently from any operating system
It features a highly scalable client/server architecture
It implements the error detection system
Provides congestion and flow control
UDP has many advantages
These are some of the benefits of UDP:
There is no need for a connection mechanism
Small packets make bandwidth efficient