2. UDP, or User Datagram Protocol, is one of the several
core protocols of the standard Internet protocol suite.
By making use of UDP, it is possible for programs that
are found on various computers connected by a network
to send short messages back and forth. Known as
datagrams, these quick and easy message make use of
very little in the way of system resources, and are secure
point to point communications.
4. The earliest creation of UDP took place before the
widespread use of the Internet by the general public.
Developed in 1980, UDP was the brain child of David P.
Reed. Reed looked for a quick and easy way to
communicate between computers on a network that did
not have to go through the usual protocols, or use up
the same amount of resources. In order to accomplish
this, Reed created the format for quick communication
that compressed the message into a datagram and did a
point to point delivery. Because of the secure nature of
UDP, this made the protocol ideal for the delivery of
proprietary documents that had been compressed.
6. Along with use for quick messages between users on the
same network, UDP also can interface with several
different network applications. Domain Name Systems,
or DNS is one such application. Various streaming media
applications, both voice and video make use of UDP.
Such applications as IPTV, Voice over Internet Protocol, a
variety of online games, and Trivial File Transfer Protocol
all work with the use of UDP.
8. Both TCP and UDP are commonly used in business
situations. The two applications are usually balanced in
their use, and it is possible to make use of each one
depending on the circumstances. TCP, however, is
usually focused on such applications as accounting
software, order taking and fulfilling software, and
similar types of key systems that businesses use daily. By
contrast, the use of UDP will focus more on the
transmission of voice in video using VoIP and VVoIP to
conduct virtual meetings, sales presentations, and other
similar business related tasks.
9. Some programmers complain that the presence of UDP
can undermine the functionality of TCP. However, this
can usually be corrected by structuring the design of the
network to allow for the dual use of both types of
protocols.