TCP UDP Basic

TCP is referred to as a connection-oriented protocol. Connection-oriented protocols require that a channel be established (a communications line established between the sending and receiving hosts, such as in a telephone connection) before messages are transmitted.

UDP is considered a connectionless protocol. This means that data can be sent without creating a connection to the receiving host. The sending computer simply places messages onto the network with the destination address and hopes that the messages arrive intact.

Difference: UDP does not check for dropped data. The benefit of being connectionless is that data can be transferred more quickly; the drawback is that data can more easily be lost during transmission.