user datagram protocol

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
User Datagram Protocol
UDP

   <protocol> (UDP) {Internet} {standard} {network layer},
   {transport layer} and {session layer} {protocols} which
   provide simple but {unreliable} {datagram} services.  UDP is
   defined in {STD 6}, {RFC 768}.  It adds a {checksum} and
   additional process-to-process addressing information [to
   what?].  UDP is a {connectionless protocol} which, like {TCP},
   is layered on top of {IP}.

   UDP neither guarantees delivery nor does it require a
   connection.  As a result it is lightweight and efficient, but
   all error processing and retransmission must be taken care of
   by the {application program}.

   {Unix manual page}: udp(4).

   [Postel, Jon, User Datagram Protocol, RFC 768, Network
   Information Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif.,
   August 1980].

   (1998-02-11)