What does the abbreviation UDP stand for?

The abbreviation UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol. This protocol is part of the Internet Protocol Suite and is used for transmitting data over a network. Unlike TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), UDP does not establish a connection before sending data, which allows for faster transmission. However, this also means that it does not guarantee the delivery of packets, making it a connectionless protocol. UDP is commonly used in applications where speed is critical, such as video streaming, online gaming, and voice over IP (VoIP), where some packet loss is acceptable.

Understanding that UDP operates in a connectionless manner and is lightweight compared to TCP helps grasp its use cases and advantages, particularly in scenarios where speed takes precedence over reliability.