- A
Used by DNS and DHCP
DNS and DHCP commonly use UDP.
- B
Low overhead
UDP has minimal header overhead.
- C
Connection-oriented
Why wrong: UDP is connectionless.
- D
Reliable delivery
Why wrong: UDP does not guarantee delivery.
- E
No flow control
UDP does not have built-in flow control.
Question 270 of 1,000
200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of network fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which THREE of the following are characteristics of the UDP protocol?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Used by DNS and DHCP
UDP is a connectionless transport layer protocol that provides minimal overhead, making it ideal for applications like DNS and DHCP that require fast, lightweight communication. DNS uses UDP for queries (port 53) and DHCP uses UDP for client-server exchanges (ports 67/68) because they can tolerate occasional packet loss and benefit from the reduced latency.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Used by DNS and DHCP
- ✓
Low overhead
Why this is correct
UDP has minimal header overhead.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Connection-oriented
Why it's wrong here
UDP is connectionless.
- ✗
Reliable delivery
Why it's wrong here
UDP does not guarantee delivery.
- ✓
No flow control
Why this is correct
UDP does not have built-in flow control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between connection-oriented (TCP) and connectionless (UDP) protocols, and candidates mistakenly associate 'reliable delivery' with UDP because some application-layer protocols (e.g., DNS with retries) can achieve reliability, but UDP itself does not provide it.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
UDP's lack of flow control means it does not implement congestion avoidance or windowing mechanisms like TCP's sliding window. This can lead to packet loss during network congestion, but it also allows for real-time applications (e.g., VoIP, video streaming) to operate with lower latency, as they can tolerate some loss rather than waiting for retransmissions. The UDP header is only 8 bytes, compared to TCP's 20-byte minimum header, contributing to its low overhead.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 200-901 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
Network Fundamentals — This question tests Network Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Used by DNS and DHCP — UDP is a connectionless transport layer protocol that provides minimal overhead, making it ideal for applications like DNS and DHCP that require fast, lightweight communication. DNS uses UDP for queries (port 53) and DHCP uses UDP for client-server exchanges (ports 67/68) because they can tolerate occasional packet loss and benefit from the reduced latency.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 200-901 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-901 exam.
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