TLDR Web Dev · ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

WHAT IS UDP?

pboyd.io6 min read

Summary from the TLDR Web Dev newsletter

UDP is a networking protocol that adds port numbers to IP packets, allowing programs on a host to communicate directly with each other. It's often described as "connectionless" and "unreliable" because it doesn't guarantee delivery of packets, but this makes it ideal for situations where speed and efficiency are important. UDP is used in a wide variety of applications, including live video streaming, online gaming, and VPNs like WireGuard.