Network Protocols

TCP

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a core internet protocol that provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data between applications over IP networks. It establishes a connection-oriented communication channel, ensuring data packets arrive intact and in sequence, making it essential for applications like web browsing, email, and file transfers. As part of the TCP/IP suite, it operates at the transport layer, managing data segmentation, flow control, and congestion avoidance.

Also known as: Transmission Control Protocol, TCP/IP, TCP protocol, TCP stack, TCP connection

🧊Why learn TCP?

Developers should learn TCP when building networked applications that require reliable data transmission, such as web servers, databases, or real-time communication tools, as it handles packet loss and ordering automatically. It's crucial for understanding internet fundamentals, debugging network issues, and implementing custom protocols where guaranteed delivery is needed, unlike UDP which is faster but less reliable.

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Learning Resources

Khan Academy - TCP/IP

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (Book)

TCP Fundamentals - YouTube

Related Tools

Ip Udp Http Sockets Network Programming

Alternatives to TCP

Other Network Protocols

Acme Protocol is a standardized communication protocol used for automated certificate management, primarily for obtaining and renewing SSL/TLS certificates from certificate authorities (CAs). It enables servers and applications to automatically request, validate, and install certificates without manual intervention, streamlining the process of securing web services with HTTPS. The protocol is widely implemented by CAs and tools like Let's Encrypt to support the ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment) standard.

ActivityPub is an open, decentralized social networking protocol that enables servers to communicate and share social activities, such as posts, likes, and follows, across different platforms. It is a W3C standard that defines a client-to-server API for creating, updating, and deleting content, as well as a server-to-server API for federated interactions between independent servers. This allows users on different social media platforms to interact seamlessly, fostering interoperability in the fediverse.

ActivityPub is a decentralized social networking protocol that enables different social platforms to communicate with each other, allowing users to interact across independent servers. It provides a standardized way for servers to exchange social activities like posts, likes, and follows, forming a federated network where no single entity controls the entire system. This protocol underpins many modern federated social networks, promoting interoperability and user autonomy.

AMQP (Advanced Message Queuing Protocol) is an open standard application layer protocol for message-oriented middleware, enabling reliable, secure, and interoperable messaging between applications. It defines a wire-level protocol for message queuing, routing, and delivery, supporting features like publish/subscribe, request/reply, and point-to-point communication. AMQP is widely used in distributed systems, microservices architectures, and enterprise messaging to decouple components and handle asynchronous communication.

BACnet (Building Automation and Control Networks) is a communication protocol designed specifically for building automation and control systems, such as HVAC, lighting, and security. It enables interoperability between devices from different manufacturers by defining standard data objects, services, and network rules. Developed by ASHRAE, it is widely used in commercial and industrial buildings for efficient management and monitoring.

BACnet (Building Automation and Control Networks) is a communication protocol designed specifically for building automation and control systems, such as HVAC, lighting, and security. It enables interoperability between devices from different manufacturers by standardizing data exchange over various network types, including Ethernet, IP, and serial links. The protocol defines objects, services, and data structures to facilitate monitoring and control of building systems.