What is the role of TCP in TCP/IP?

The role of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) in the TCP/IP suite is primarily focused on ensuring reliable communication between devices over a network. Specifically, it ensures that data is transferred accurately and in the correct order from the client to the server. TCP achieves this through several mechanisms, such as error checking, acknowledgments, and retransmission of lost packets.

When data is sent from one point to another, TCP breaks it down into segments and adds a header to each segment containing important information, including sequence numbers. This helps the receiving device to reassemble the segments in the right order, even if they arrive out of sequence. The protocol also requires the recipient to send back acknowledgments for received segments, establishing a continuous feedback loop that confirms successful delivery. If an acknowledgment is not received within a set time frame, TCP will retransmit the segment, ensuring that all data eventually reaches its intended destination intact.

This reliability aspect of TCP is what distinguishes it from other protocols within the TCP/IP suite. While IP (Internet Protocol) is responsible for routing packets based on their IP addresses, it does not guarantee delivery or correct sequencing of those packets. Therefore, TCP's primary role in verifying the correct delivery of data is crucial for applications that depend on accurate, ordered,