Activity (Process)

TCP Three-Way Handshake

The TCP three-way handshake is an ordered connection-establishment procedure that occurs between two hosts before application data is transferred. The sequence consists of three steps:

  1. The initiating client transmits a SYN ("synchronize") message requesting to open a connection.
  2. The server responds with a SYN-ACK message acknowledging the client's request and agreeing to establish the connection.
  3. The client replies with a final ACK message, confirming receipt and finalizing connection establishment.

Only after this three-step exchange concludes successfully does actual data payload transfer begin.

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Updated 2026-09-06

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Prep Sessions

Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.3 Transport Layer Mechanisms - Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Transmission Control Protocol and Connection Establishment - Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.4 Application Layer Services and Protocols - Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Web Communication with HTTP, HTTPS, and TLS - Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.5 Conceptual Review and Analysis - Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Common Networking Misconceptions - Anatomy of the Internet: Core Protocols and Packet Delivery @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor