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User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a lightweight, connectionless transport protocol designed for fast data delivery on top of IP. Unlike TCP, UDP does not perform an initial handshake, assign tracking sequence numbers, require delivery acknowledgments, or execute retransmissions.

Because UDP avoids the overhead of connection setup and tracking states, devices can transmit data immediately. This "send and forget" approach offers minimal latency at the expense of guaranteed arrival or packet ordering.

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Updated 2026-09-04

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Prep Sessions

From Packets to Protocols: How Modern Networks Transmit Data @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ch.3 Core Communication Protocols - From Packets to Protocols: How Modern Networks Transmit Data @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Transport Protocols: TCP versus UDP - From Packets to Protocols: How Modern Networks Transmit Data @ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor