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Definition

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a core transport-layer protocol that provides reliable, ordered data delivery between programs running on networked hosts. Operating directly on top of the Internet Protocol (IP), TCP numbers each unit of data, confirms receipts through acknowledgments, resends lost packets, and regulates transmission speed to avoid congestion. TCP requires a connection to be established via a handshake before data is transmitted, making it ideal when every byte must arrive accurately, such as for web pages, email, and file transfers.

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Updated 2026-09-15

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Prep Sessions

The Architecture of Connected Systems: Tracing End-to-End Data Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.3 Core Internet Protocols - The Architecture of Connected Systems: Tracing End-to-End Data Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Three-Way Handshake - The Architecture of Connected Systems: Tracing End-to-End Data Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.4 Network Performance and Metrics - The Architecture of Connected Systems: Tracing End-to-End Data Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Bandwidth, Latency, and Networking Misconceptions - The Architecture of Connected Systems: Tracing End-to-End Data Flow @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Network Architecture and Packet Flow: Inside Modern Communication Systems @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.3 Routing and Reliable Transport - Network Architecture and Packet Flow: Inside Modern Communication Systems @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

TCP Reliability and Three-Way Handshake - Network Architecture and Packet Flow: Inside Modern Communication Systems @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.4 Network Performance Characteristics - Network Architecture and Packet Flow: Inside Modern Communication Systems @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Bandwidth, Latency, and Common Networking Misconceptions - Network Architecture and Packet Flow: Inside Modern Communication Systems @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

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