UDP stands for "User Datagram Protocol." It is another fundamental protocol of the Internet Protocol suite (TCP/IP) that, unlike TCP, offers connectionless communication. UDP allows for the exchange of data between applications without requiring a prior connection. Compared to TCP, UDP provides fewer features for reliability and error handling, making it faster but less reliable.
Some key features of UDP include:
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Connectionlessness: UDP does not require a prior connection between sender and receiver. Datagram packets are simply sent without requiring acknowledgment or monitoring of reception.
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Low overhead: Compared to TCP, UDP has lower overhead because it provides fewer complex mechanisms for reliability and error handling.
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Faster transmission: Because UDP offers fewer features for data transmission, it can be faster than TCP in certain applications.
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Multicast and broadcast support: UDP supports multicast and broadcast communication, making it suitable for applications like audio and video streaming or online gaming.
UDP is commonly used in applications where fast data transmission is more important than reliability, such as real-time communication, streaming media, and online gaming.
