Stream control transmission protocol
(also SCTP)
Stream control transmission protocol definition
The stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) is a communication protocol that network protocols use to transmit multiple streams of data between two points in a network. It is designed to transport data in a reliable, efficient manner, similar to TCP, but with additional features that support more complex communication scenarios.
See also: data transmission, parallel data transmission, synchronous data transmission
How stream control transmission protocol works
SCTP works by first establishing a connection between two endpoints, which can be any device capable of sending and receiving data. Once the connection is active, SCTP supports the transmission of data through multiple, separate streams. This is particularly useful when you want to send multiple types of data simultaneously without them interfering with each other. For example, a video conferencing app might use one stream for video data and another for control signals.
One of the key features of SCTP is its support for multi-homing. This means that an SCTP connection can span multiple network paths, increasing the reliability of data transfers. If one path fails, SCTP can automatically switch to another available path without interrupting the data flow.
SCTP also includes various other features, like acknowledging received data, detecting and retransmitting lost packets, and controlling the rate of data transmission to prevent network congestion. These features ensure that data is transmitted reliably and in order, similar to TCP.