TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a fundamental protocol in the Internet Protocol Suite that ensures reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications. It operates at the transport layer and is widely used for tasks requiring accuracy, such as web browsing, email, and file transfers.

Key Features of TCP

  • Reliability: Uses acknowledgments and retransmissions to ensure data arrives intact.
  • Flow Control: Adjusts data transmission rates to prevent overwhelming the receiver.
  • Congestion Control: Manages network traffic to avoid congestion.
  • Connection-Oriented: Establishes a connection before data transfer (via a 3-way handshake).
  • Segmentation: Breaks data into smaller packets for transmission.

Use Cases

  • Web traffic (HTTP, HTTPS)
  • Email (SMTP, POP, IMAP)
  • File transfers (FTP, SFTP)
  • Database communications

Diagrams

TCP_protocol
*Figure 1: TCP protocol overview*
TCP_handshake
*Figure 2: TCP three-way handshake process*

Related Reading

For deeper insights into networking fundamentals, visit our guide on Networking Basics.