Question 17376 – NTA UGC NET Dec 2023 Paper-2

UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless transport protocol that focuses on speed and simplicity. It does not implement the features found in the more complex TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), such as congestion control, flow control, or retransmission.
Here’s a breakdown of why:
Congestion control (A): UDP does not attempt to regulate the amount of data it sends to avoid overwhelming the network. This can lead to congestion and packet loss in certain situations.
Flow control (B): UDP does not coordinate the rate of data transmission with the receiver’s ability to process it. This can result in dropped packets if the receiver cannot keep up.
Retransmission (C): UDP does not automatically retransmit lost packets. It relies on applications to handle any necessary retransmissions, if desired.
Segments transmission (D): UDP’s primary function is to transmit segments of data, known as datagrams, from one host to another. It encapsulates data from applications into these datagrams and sends them over the network without any guarantees of delivery or order.
In summary, UDP prioritizes speed and simplicity over reliability. It’s often used for applications that can tolerate some packet loss or don’t require strict delivery guarantees, such as:
Real-time streaming media: Video and audio broadcasts where a few lost packets aren’t noticeable.
Online gaming: Fast-paced games where delayed retransmissions could disrupt gameplay.
DNS lookups: Quick queries for domain name information.
VoIP (Voice over IP): Real-time voice conversations where some packet loss is acceptable.
If an application needs reliable, ordered, and congestion-controlled data delivery, TCP is the more appropriate choice.