TCP vs UDP

The internet's reliable old workhorse meets the speed demon of protocols: no handshakes, no guarantees, just raw data flying at you. Here's our take.

TCP

Nice Pick

The internet's reliable old workhorse. It'll get your data there, but don't expect it to be fast or flashy.

Pros

• Guaranteed data delivery with error-checking and retransmission
• Maintains packet order for seamless application communication
• Built-in flow control prevents overwhelming slow receivers

Cons

• Connection setup overhead adds latency compared to UDP
• Congestion control can throttle performance in high-traffic networks

UDP

The speed demon of protocols: no handshakes, no guarantees, just raw data flying at you.

Pros

• Minimal overhead for blazing-fast transmission
• No connection setup delays, ideal for real-time apps
• Simple design reduces complexity and resource usage

Cons

• No delivery guarantees, so packets can vanish into the void
• No built-in ordering or duplicate protection, causing chaos in data streams

The Verdict

Use TCP if: You want guaranteed data delivery with error-checking and retransmission and can live with connection setup overhead adds latency compared to udp.

Use UDP if: You prioritize minimal overhead for blazing-fast transmission over what TCP offers.

The Bottom Line

TCP wins

The internet's reliable old workhorse. It'll get your data there, but don't expect it to be fast or flashy.