What happens if a packet in TCP transmission is lost or corrupted?

The destination host requests the sender to resend the packet

What is TCP

by Yogi P - September 6, 2023

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol, a connection-oriented protocol that provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between two hosts. It is one of the most important protocols in the internet protocol suite (TCP/IP), and is used for a wide variety of applications, including web browsing, email, and file transfer.

How does TCP work?

TCP works by breaking up data into small segments, called packets. Each packet contains a header that includes information about the source and destination addresses, the sequence number of the packet, and the checksum. The checksum is used to detect errors in the packet.

The packets are then sent over the network to the destination host. The destination host reassembles the packets into the original data stream. If any packets are missing or corrupted, the destination host requests that the sender resend them.

What are the benefits of TCP?

TCP provides a number of benefits, including:

Reliable delivery: TCP guarantees that all data will be delivered, even if some packets are lost or corrupted.
Ordered delivery: TCP ensures that the data is delivered in the same order in which it was sent.
Error detection: TCP detects errors in the data and requests that the sender resend the packets.
Flow control: TCP controls the flow of data to prevent the sender from sending too much data at once.

Where is TCP used?

TCP is used for a wide variety of applications, including:

Web browsing: TCP is used to transfer data between your computer and the web server.
Email: TCP is used to transfer email messages between your computer and the mail server.
File transfer: TCP is used to transfer files between your computer and another computer.
Remote desktop: TCP is used to connect to a remote computer and control it as if you were sitting in front of it.
Streaming media: TCP is used to stream audio and video data over the internet.

Conclusion

TCP is an important protocol that is used to ensure reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data over the internet. It is used for a wide variety of applications, and is essential for the smooth operation of the internet.