protocol (UDP)
Internet standard network layer,
transport layer and
session layer protocols which provide simple but
unreliable datagram services. UDP is defined in STD 6, RFC 768. It adds a
checksum and additional process-to-process addressing information [to what?]. UDP is a
connectionless protocol which, like
TCP, is layered on top of
IP.
UDP neither guarantees delivery nor does it require a connection. As a result it is lightweight and efficient, but all error processing and retransmission must be taken care of by the
application program.
Unix manual page: udp(4).
[Postel, Jon, User Datagram Protocol, RFC 768, Network Information Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., August 1980].
(1998-02-11)