TCP stands for "Transmission Control Protocol." It is a fundamental protocol of the Internet Protocol suite (TCP/IP), responsible for the reliable transmission of data across networks. TCP provides connection-oriented communication, ensuring reliable and sequential transmission of data between a sender and receiver.
Some of the key features of TCP include:
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Reliability: TCP ensures that data packets arrive in the correct order and that no packets are lost. If a packet is not received properly, TCP requests a retransmission.
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Flow control: TCP regulates the flow of data between sender and receiver to prevent receiver overload and avoid data loss.
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Error detection and correction: TCP employs various mechanisms to detect and correct errors during data transmission.
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Full-duplex communication: TCP enables bidirectional communication, allowing both sender and receiver to send and receive data simultaneously.
TCP is used by a wide range of applications on the internet, including web browsers, email clients, file transfer protocols, and many others. It is one of the foundational protocols that enable the internet, essential for transmitting data across the internet.