A TCP stream refers to a continuous flow of data transmitted over a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between two endpoints (usually identified by IP addresses and port numbers). It represents a sequence of packets that are sent and received in a reliable, ordered manner, ensuring that data is delivered accurately and without duplication.
Key characteristics of a TCP stream include:
- Connection-oriented: TCP establishes a connection before data transfer, ensuring that both ends are ready to communicate.
- Reliable delivery: TCP guarantees that data packets are delivered in the order they were sent, and it retransmits any lost packets.
- Flow control: TCP manages the rate of data transmission to prevent overwhelming the receiving end.
- Error checking: TCP includes mechanisms to detect and correct errors in the transmitted data.
In network analysis, a TCP stream can be examined to understand the communication between applications, troubleshoot issues, or analyze traffic patterns.
