TCP, or in its longer form Transmission Control Protocol, is a protocol of the internet protocol suite, a computer networking model and set of communications protocols used on the internet.

The transmission control protocol was originated from the initial network implementation that complemented the internet protocol, otherwise known as IP.

TCP essentially helps to set up network conversations via which application programs are enabled to share data.

TCP

How does TCP work?

According to the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, the TCP/IP stack is split into four different layers: applications, transport, IP and hardware.

The application layer sends and receives data for particular application such as DNS. The transport layer provides connection-oriented or connectionless services for transporting application layer services between networks.

The IP layer routes packets across networks. Lastly, the hardware layer handles communications on the physical network components.