TCP vs UDP: Reliability and Communication Types

D

The correct answer is D: TCP is reliable and is a connection-oriented protocol; UDP is not reliable and is a connectionless protocol.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are two of the most widely used transport layer protocols in computer networking. They differ in terms of their reliability and communication type.

TCP is a reliable protocol, which means that it provides guaranteed delivery of data. TCP establishes a connection between the two endpoints before data transfer begins. This connection is maintained until all the data has been successfully transmitted, at which point the connection is terminated. TCP uses various mechanisms, such as error detection and correction, retransmission of lost packets, and flow control, to ensure that the data is transmitted reliably and in the correct order. TCP is therefore well-suited for applications that require a high degree of reliability and accuracy, such as file transfers, email, and web browsing.

UDP, on the other hand, is a connectionless protocol, which means that it does not establish a connection before data transfer begins. Instead, UDP simply sends packets of data to the recipient without any prior negotiation. UDP does not provide any guarantees regarding the delivery or order of packets, and it does not include any error detection or correction mechanisms. As a result, UDP is faster and more lightweight than TCP, but it is also less reliable. UDP is often used for applications that require speed and efficiency, such as online gaming, video streaming, and VoIP (voice over IP) calls.

In summary, TCP is a reliable, connection-oriented protocol that provides guaranteed delivery of data, while UDP is an unreliable, connectionless protocol that is faster and more lightweight but does not provide any guarantees regarding the delivery or order of data packets.