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Which two statements accurately compare TCP and UDP? (Choose two.)

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Which two statements accurately compare TCP and UDP? (Choose two.)

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Answer choices

Why each option matters

Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.

A

Best answer

TCP provides connection-oriented transport

Correct. TCP is a connection-oriented transport protocol.

B

Distractor review

UDP guarantees delivery through acknowledgments

UDP does not guarantee delivery with acknowledgments.

C

Best answer

UDP has lower overhead than TCP

Correct. UDP generally has lower header and session-management overhead.

D

Distractor review

TCP does not use port numbers

TCP absolutely uses port numbers.

E

Distractor review

UDP is always faster because it avoids congestion

UDP may have lower overhead, but always faster is too absolute and not technically sound.

Common exam trap

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

A common exam trap is believing that UDP guarantees delivery through acknowledgments or that it is always faster than TCP. UDP does not provide acknowledgments or retransmissions, so it cannot guarantee delivery. Additionally, while UDP has lower overhead, network conditions such as congestion can cause packet loss, making it not always faster. Misunderstanding these points can lead to incorrect answers about transport layer protocols in Cisco exams.

Technical deep dive

How to think about this question

TCP is a transport layer protocol that establishes a connection between sender and receiver before data transmission begins. It uses a three-way handshake to set up the session and employs sequencing, acknowledgments, and flow control to guarantee reliable and ordered delivery of data. This connection-oriented nature ensures that packets arrive intact and in order, which is critical for applications like web browsing, email, and file transfers. UDP, in contrast, is a connectionless protocol that sends datagrams without establishing a session or confirming receipt. It has a simpler header and does not perform sequencing or acknowledgments, resulting in lower overhead and faster transmission. UDP is suitable for applications where speed is prioritized over reliability, such as streaming, VoIP, and online gaming. A common exam trap is assuming UDP always delivers data faster because it avoids congestion control. While UDP has lower overhead, it does not manage congestion or retransmissions, which can lead to packet loss in congested networks. Cisco devices and CCNA exams emphasize understanding these trade-offs to select the appropriate protocol for specific network scenarios.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • TCP provides connection-oriented transport by establishing a session before data transfer using a three-way handshake.
  • UDP operates as a connectionless protocol that sends data without establishing or maintaining a session.
  • TCP guarantees reliable data delivery through sequencing, acknowledgments, and retransmission mechanisms.
  • UDP has lower overhead than TCP because it does not use sequencing, acknowledgments, or flow control.
  • TCP uses port numbers to identify application endpoints and manage multiple simultaneous connections.
  • UDP uses port numbers but does not guarantee delivery or order of packets.
  • TCP’s connection-oriented nature makes it suitable for applications requiring reliability, such as HTTP and FTP.
  • UDP’s lower overhead and connectionless design make it ideal for real-time applications like VoIP and streaming.

TExam Day Tips

  • Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
  • Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

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More questions from this exam

Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.

Question 1

A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?

Question 2

A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?

Question 3

What is the OSPF metric called?

Question 4

A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?

Question 5

A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?

Question 6

A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-301 question test?

TCP provides connection-oriented transport by establishing a session before data transfer using a three-way handshake.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: TCP provides connection-oriented transport — TCP is connection-oriented and uses sequencing, acknowledgments, and related controls. UDP is simpler and has lower overhead, but it does not guarantee delivery.

What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?

Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.

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