Data on top of IP uses one of two main transport protocols:
UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
- Connectionless, minimal overhead
- Packets may arrive out of order or be lost
- Preferred for real‑time games
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
- Connection-oriented, reliable, ordered delivery
- Retransmits lost packets, may introduce latency spikes
- Ideal for file transfers, chat, but less so for fast-paced games