What is used by TCP to establish the correct order of packets?

The correct answer is sequence numbers. In the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), sequence numbers play a critical role in ensuring that data packets are delivered in the correct order. When TCP splits data into segments for transmission, each segment is assigned a unique sequence number that indicates its position within the overall data stream.

When the segments arrive at their destination, TCP uses these sequence numbers to reassemble the segments in the proper order. This is particularly important because packets may arrive at the destination out of order due to the nature of how data travels across different networks. By utilizing sequence numbers, TCP can detect which segments have arrived and which are missing, allowing it to request retransmission of any lost packets, thereby ensuring reliable and ordered delivery of data. This functionality is essential for applications that require complete and accurate data transmission, such as file transfers and web page downloads.

In contrast, identifiers, packet markers, and address codes are not utilized specifically by TCP to manage the order of packet delivery. Identifiers may relate to various protocols but do not specifically govern sequence in TCP. Packet markers could refer to various data types but lack specific meaning in the context of TCP. Address codes pertain more to routing packets than to their sequencing. Thus, sequence numbers are the definitive means by