What does TCP stand for in networking?

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol. It is one of the core protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite and is responsible for facilitating reliable communication between network devices. TCP provides several important functions, including ensuring that data packets are delivered in the correct order, retransmitting lost packets, and managing flow control to prevent any one sender from overwhelming a receiver with too much data at once.

The protocol operates at the transport layer of the OSI model, where it establishes a connection-oriented communication session. This ensures that both the sender and receiver can detect errors in transmission, maintain the integrity of data being sent, and confirm successful delivery of messages.

The other choices do not accurately represent the established terminology used in networking standards. They mix or misinterpret core concepts of protocol management and communication, leading to incorrect definitions. Understanding these terms helps in grasping the fundamental operations of network communications more effectively.