UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a communication protocol that is used for establishing low-latency and loss-tolerant connections between applications on the internet. It is often used for applications that require fast data transfer, such as streaming media, online gaming, and VoIP.
Key Features of UDP
- Connectionless: UDP does not establish a connection before sending data. This makes it faster than TCP, which requires a handshake process.
- Low Overhead: UDP has a smaller header size compared to TCP, which reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted.
- Unreliable: UDP does not guarantee the delivery of data packets. This means that packets can be lost or arrive out of order.
Use Cases
- Streaming Media: UDP is commonly used for streaming media because it allows for real-time data transfer without the need for retransmission of lost packets.
- Online Gaming: UDP is used in online gaming to reduce latency and ensure smooth gameplay.
- VoIP: UDP is used in VoIP applications to provide real-time voice communication.
UDP vs TCP
| Feature | UDP | TCP |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Connectionless | Connection-oriented |
| Reliability | Unreliable | Reliable |
| Overhead | Low | High |
| Latency | Low | High |
More Information
For more information about UDP and its applications, you can visit our Networking Basics page.