| Feature | TCP | UDP |
| Connection status | Requires an established connection to transmit data (connection should be closed once transmission is complete) | Connectionless protocol with no requirements for opening, maintaining, or terminating a connection |
| Guaranteed delivery | YES | NO |
| Retransmission of data | YES | NO |
| Error checking | YES | NO |
| Method of transfer | Data is read as a byte stream; messages are transmitted to segment boundaries | UDP packets with defined boundaries; sent individually and checked for integrity on arrival |
| Speed | SLOW than UDP | FASTER than TCP |
| Broadcasting | NO | YES |
| Optimal use | HTTPS, HTTP, SMTP, POP, FTP | Video conferencing, Streaming, DNS, VoIP, |