What is TCP?

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol. It's one of the main protocols in the Internet Protocol (IP) suite and is responsible for ensuring the reliable and ordered delivery of data between devices on a network.

Example:

When you send data over the internet, whether it's a web page request or a file download, TCP breaks the data into smaller packets and sends them from your device to the destination device. Once the packets arrive at the destination, TCP reassembles them in the correct order to reconstruct the original data.

Imagine you're downloading a large file from a server. If a packet of data is lost or corrupted during transmission (which can happen due to network congestion or other issues), TCP ensures that the missing or corrupted data is retransmitted, guaranteeing the integrity of the overall data transfer. This reliability is crucial for applications where accurate data delivery is essential, such as web browsing or file transfers.

In summary, TCP provides a reliable, connection-oriented communication channel between devices on a network, ensuring that data is delivered accurately and in the correct order.