User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a transport layer protocol used in computer networks. It is connectionless, meaning that packets are sent and received without the need to create a connection. UDP works on a best-effort basis, meaning that it does not guarantee delivery, order, or duplicate protection of the packets it sends. It offers higher-speed data transmission compared to the transmission control protocol (TCP), as well as higher transfer overhead than the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). This makes it suitable for applications that require fast transmission. User Datagram Protocol is used in applications such as VoIP, online gaming, video streaming, DNS resolution, and DNS lookups. It is utilized on almost all networks and designed to be very lightweight. Learn more about how UDP works.