Which of the following best describes TCP?

The best description of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is that it is a reliable, connection-oriented protocol. TCP establishes a connection between the sender and receiver before transmitting data, which is a key characteristic of connection-oriented protocols. This connection ensures that both parties are ready for communication and helps maintain an organized data flow.

Reliability is another critical aspect of TCP. It uses procedures such as error detection, acknowledgment of received packets, and the retransmission of lost packets to ensure that data is transferred accurately and completely over the network. This level of reliability is essential for applications where data integrity is crucial, such as file transfers or web browsing.

In contrast, connectionless protocols, like UDP (User Datagram Protocol), do not establish a connection and do not guarantee delivery, making them less reliable. While video streaming can utilize TCP, particularly for applications that require a reliable data stream, it often employs UDP for its ability to provide quicker transmission with lower latency, accepting some loss in data quality. Unreliable connection-oriented protocols do not exist, as the concept of being connection-oriented inherently implies mechanisms for reliability. Therefore, the description of TCP as a reliable, connection-oriented protocol is the most accurate representation of its functions in networking.