Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are two fundamental communication protocols
that operate at the transport layer of the Internet Protocol (IP) suite. While both protocols serve the purpose of
facilitating communication between devices on a network, they differ significantly in terms of their
characteristics, use cases, and reliability. This article explores the key differences between TCP and UDP.

1. Connection-Oriented vs. Connectionless

TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, meaning that it establishes a reliable and ordered communication channel
before data exchange begins. It ensures that data is delivered in the correct order and guarantees successful
delivery through acknowledgments. This reliability makes TCP suitable for applications where data integrity is
crucial, such as file transfers, web browsing, and email.

SSH UDP Tunneling Service – On the other hand, UDP is a connectionless protocol, allowing data to be sent without establishing a dedicated
connection. UDP is faster but does not guarantee the delivery of packets or the order in which they arrive. This
makes UDP suitable for real-time applications, like online gaming, video streaming, and VoIP, where occasional
packet loss is acceptable.

2. Error Checking and Correction

TCP includes robust error-checking mechanisms, utilizing checksums and acknowledgment features. If a packet is
lost or corrupted during transmission, TCP will retransmit the data until it is successfully received. This
ensures high reliability but may introduce latency.

3. Order of Delivery

TCP guarantees the order of delivery for data packets. It reassembles received packets in the correct order,
ensuring that the application receives the data in the sequence it was sent. This is essential for applications
where maintaining the order of information is critical, such as in file transfers or web page loading.

4. Flow Control

TCP incorporates flow control mechanisms to manage the rate of data transmission between sender and receiver.
This prevents congestion and ensures that data is delivered at a pace that the receiver can handle. While this
contributes to reliable communication, it may introduce additional latency.

In summary, TCP and UDP serve distinct purposes in network communication. TCP prioritizes reliability, ordered
delivery, and error correction, making it suitable for applications requiring data integrity. UDP, with its
focus on speed and simplicity, is better suited for real-time applications where occasional packet loss is
acceptable. Understanding the differences between TCP and UDP is essential for selecting the appropriate protocol
based on the specific requirements of a given application.