Which protocol is typically used for streaming media due to low overhead and tolerance for packet loss?

Which protocol is typically used for streaming media due to low overhead and tolerance for packet loss?

• A. TCP
• B. UDP
• C. ICMP
• D. SSH

Answer: (B)

Streaming media needs to move data quickly with minimal overhead and can tolerate some data loss without breaking playback. UDP fits this need because it is connectionless and does not perform the extra work of establishing a connection or guaranteeing delivery. There’s no handshake, no retransmission of missing packets, and no strict in-order delivery, which keeps latency low and playback smooth even if a few packets are lost. In real-time streaming, delays from waiting for lost packets to be resent would cause noticeable buffering and jitter, so sacrificing perfect delivery accuracy yields a better viewing experience. In contrast, TCP provides reliable delivery with acknowledgments, retransmissions, and strict in-order arrival. Those features add latency and can cause stalling during playback, which isn’t ideal for streaming. ICMP is used for diagnostic messages like ping and network errors, not for streaming. SSH is for secure remote access, not for media delivery.

Streaming media needs to move data quickly with minimal overhead and can tolerate some data loss without breaking playback. UDP fits this need because it is connectionless and does not perform the extra work of establishing a connection or guaranteeing delivery. There’s no handshake, no retransmission of missing packets, and no strict in-order delivery, which keeps latency low and playback smooth even if a few packets are lost. In real-time streaming, delays from waiting for lost packets to be resent would cause noticeable buffering and jitter, so sacrificing perfect delivery accuracy yields a better viewing experience.

In contrast, TCP provides reliable delivery with acknowledgments, retransmissions, and strict in-order arrival. Those features add latency and can cause stalling during playback, which isn’t ideal for streaming. ICMP is used for diagnostic messages like ping and network errors, not for streaming. SSH is for secure remote access, not for media delivery.