What does TCP stand for in the context of port usage?

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol. It is one of the main protocols used in the Internet protocol suite and is fundamental for enabling reliable communication over networks. TCP is responsible for ensuring that data is transmitted accurately and in the correct order between devices, which is crucial for applications that require a reliable connection, such as web browsing, email, and file transfers. It does this through mechanisms like error checking, packet retransmission, and flow control.

In the context of port usage, TCP allows different applications on a device to communicate over the network while using the same IP address. Each application listens on a specific port number, and TCP helps to ensure that the data destined for the right application is delivered correctly. This coordination is essential for the functioning of services like HTTP (web traffic), FTP (file transfers), and many others, all of which rely on TCP for their operations.