How does TCP/IP handle lost data?

The way TCP/IP handles lost data is through automatic retransmission until all data is received, which is accurately reflected in the chosen answer. TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, is designed to ensure reliable communication over a network. When data packets are sent, TCP assigns a sequence number to each packet, allowing it to keep track of them during transmission. If a packet is lost, the receiving device can detect this loss by noticing a gap in the sequence numbers.

In response to this detection, TCP uses acknowledgments; if the sender does not receive an acknowledgment for a sent packet within a specific timeframe, it assumes that the packet was lost and automatically retransmits it. This process continues until the sender receives confirmation that all packets have been acknowledged. This built-in mechanism for managing lost data helps maintain the integrity and reliability of data transmission in TCP/IP networks.

The other choices do not accurately reflect how TCP/IP manages lost data. Ignoring lost data would lead to incomplete communications, while informing the user or requiring manual resending creates an inefficient and error-prone process. TCP's automatic retransmission is what distinguishes it as a protocol suited for applications where reliability is critical.