The TCP layer is responsible for establishing a reliable connection between a sender and a receiver using port numbers.
Each port number identifies a specific application on a device, which is associated with its IP address.
TCP is capable of multiplexing, allowing multiple connections to coexist over a single IP line, making efficient use of network resources.
Features of TCP
End-to-End Flow Control: TCP uses a mechanism called flow control to ensure that the sender does not overwhelm the receiver with too much data at once. This is managed through the Window field, which specifies the amount of data that can be sent before requiring an acknowledgment.
Error Correction: TCP employs a Checksum to detect errors in the transmitted data. If an error is found, the corrupted packet is retransmitted.
Priority Data Transmission: TCP allows for high-priority data transmission using the Urgent Pointer field. This pointer indicates that certain data should be prioritized over others, ensuring timely delivery of critical information.