User Datagram Protocol

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)