What is a key characteristic of TCP in terms of connection?

A key characteristic of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is that it is connection-oriented. This means that a connection must be established between the two communicating devices before data can be transmitted. TCP uses a three-way handshake process to set up a connection, where initial synchronization between the sender and receiver takes place, ensuring that both parties are ready to communicate, and that they can agree on parameters for the session.

Being connection-oriented provides several benefits, including reliable communication through the use of acknowledgment packets that confirm receipt of data, as well as the ability to manage flow control and congestion control. This ensures that the data is delivered in the order it was sent and without loss, providing a more reliable transmission compared to connectionless protocols like UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which sends data without establishing a connection first.