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200-301 · Question #1559

Why is UDP more suitable than TCP for applications that require low latency, such as VoIP?

The correct answer is D. TCP sends an acknowledgment for every packet that is received, and UDP operates without. UDP is more suitable for low-latency applications like VoIP because, unlike TCP, it operates without connection setup, acknowledgments, or retransmissions, thus reducing overhead and delay.

Submitted by layla.eg· Mar 5, 2026Network Fundamentals

Question

Why is UDP more suitable than TCP for applications that require low latency, such as VoIP?

Options

  • AUDP uses sequencing data for packets to arrive in order, and TCP offers the capability to receive
  • BTCP uses congestion control for efficient packet delivery, and UDP uses flow control mechanisms
  • CUDP reliably guarantees delivery of all packets, and TCP drops packets under heavy load.
  • DTCP sends an acknowledgment for every packet that is received, and UDP operates without

How the community answered

(66 responses)
  • A
    2% (1)
  • B
    2% (1)
  • C
    5% (3)
  • D
    92% (61)

Why each option

UDP is more suitable for low-latency applications like VoIP because, unlike TCP, it operates without connection setup, acknowledgments, or retransmissions, thus reducing overhead and delay.

AUDP uses sequencing data for packets to arrive in order, and TCP offers the capability to receive

This statement is incorrect; TCP, not UDP, uses sequencing for in-order delivery and provides reliable receipt capabilities.

BTCP uses congestion control for efficient packet delivery, and UDP uses flow control mechanisms

This statement is inaccurate; TCP uses both congestion and flow control for efficient and reliable packet delivery, while UDP does not inherently implement these mechanisms.

CUDP reliably guarantees delivery of all packets, and TCP drops packets under heavy load.

This statement is incorrect; TCP reliably guarantees delivery of all packets through retransmissions, while UDP does not offer any delivery guarantees.

DTCP sends an acknowledgment for every packet that is received, and UDP operates withoutCorrect

TCP requires a three-way handshake, sends acknowledgments for every received packet, and retransmits lost packets, all of which introduce latency; UDP operates as a connectionless protocol without these overheads, prioritizing speed over guaranteed delivery.

Concept tested: TCP vs. UDP characteristics for real-time applications

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/winsock/tcp-ip-and-winsock

Topics

#UDP characteristics#TCP characteristics#VoIP networking#Latency

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