TCP vs UDP: What's the Difference Between Them?

TCP and UDP are both Internet protocols for data transmission. The main difference between TCP and UDP is that TCP is a connection-oriented protocol prioritizing reliability, whereas UDP is a connectionless protocol prioritizing speed.

In this article, we have explained the differences between TCP and UDP protocols with the help of examples. Learning the TCP vs UDP comparison can help you understand their purpose in internet communication.

Furthermore, if you are interested in learning about other Internet Protocols, our IT infrastructure training can help you gain practical experience on Internet Protocols. 

What is TCP?

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a core protocol of the Internet Protocol Suite that ensures reliable data transmission between devices on a network.

TCP operates at the transport layer of the OSI model and establishes a connection-oriented communication channel, which allows for error checking and guarantees that data packets are delivered in the correct order.

Key Features of TCP

● Connection-Oriented.

● Prioritizes data delivery over speed.

● Ordered Data Transfer.

What is UDP?

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a communication protocol of the Internet Protocol Suite that facilitates fast and efficient data transmission between devices on a network.

It is designed for low-latency and loss-tolerating connections. UDP does not establish a connection before data transmission, allowing for faster communication by sending datagrams directly to the recipient without ensuring delivery or order.

Key Features of UDP

● Connectionless Protocol

● Allows quick data transmission.

● Does not provide error checking or retransmission of lost packets.

CCNA Live Online TrainingPrepare for CCNA certification with live classes.Explore course

Difference Between TCP and UDP

TCP vs UDP Diagram

The diagram below compares the working of TCP and UDP protocols and how they differ from each other.

The diagram shows how TCP focuses on establishing a secure connection for better communication, but UDP focuses on the speed of data transfer.

TCP or UDP: Which Protocol is Better?

Both these protocols serve different purposes. Here we have provided applications of TCP and UDP, so that it is easier to understand where these protocols are preferred:

TCP is Best Suited For:

1. Web Browsing

2. Sending Emails

3. Sharing Files

4. Remote Access to Devices

UDP is Best Suited For

1. Live Streaming

2. Online Gaming

3. Video Conferencing

4. Domain Naming System(DNS)

TCP and UDP Similarities

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) share several similarities despite their differences in functionality and use cases.

● Both protocols operate at the transport layer of the Internet Protocol Suite, facilitating communication between devices over a network.

● They both use port numbers to identify sending and receiving applications, enabling multiplexing of multiple connections over a single network interface.

● Additionally, TCP and UDP both support error checking through checksums to ensure data integrity during transmission. While TCP provides reliable, ordered delivery of packets, UDP allows for faster transmission with minimal overhead.

Both protocols are essential for different types of applications, making them integral to network communication.

Summing Up!

In summary, the difference between TCP and UDP is that TCP offers reliability, ordered delivery, and flow control at the expense of increased overhead and latency. UDP provides low-latency, lightweight communication without reliability guarantees or packet ordering.

The comparison between TCP and UDP depends on the specific requirements of the application. Understanding both the protocols is necessary for understanding networking.