This video compares and contrasts two major internet transport protocols: UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). The video explains the functionality of the transport layer and then details the characteristics of each protocol, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in various application contexts.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol): Lightweight, connectionless, smaller packet size (60% smaller headers than TCP), faster transmission, but less reliable with no guaranteed delivery, order, or error correction. Suitable for applications where some packet loss is tolerable and speed is prioritized (e.g., streaming).
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): More reliable, connection-oriented (requires a three-way handshake), larger packet size, slower transmission due to overhead of acknowledgements and retransmissions, but guarantees delivery, order, and error correction through retransmission and congestion control. Ideal for applications requiring data integrity and reliable delivery (e.g., file transfers, SSH).
Choosing between UDP and TCP: The best choice depends on the application's needs. Applications that prioritize speed and can tolerate some data loss should use UDP, while those requiring reliable data delivery should use TCP. Multimedia streaming is an ambiguous case, with both protocols having valid use cases depending on factors like bandwidth and tolerance for packet loss.
Message-Oriented vs. Stream-Oriented: UDP is message-oriented (data sent in distinct chunks), while TCP is stream-oriented (continuous data flow).
Error Detection: Both protocols utilize checksums for error detection, with TCP's checksum being mandatory for both IPv4 and IPv6, whereas UDP's is only mandatory for IPv6.
