datagramfriendly

Datagramfriendly refers to a network protocol or application design that is well-suited for using datagram-based transport protocols, such as UDP (User Datagram Protocol). Datagrams are independent packets of data that are sent without establishing a persistent connection. This means each datagram is routed and transmitted individually, and there is no guarantee of delivery order or even delivery itself.

Protocols or applications that are datagramfriendly embrace these characteristics. They typically implement their own mechanisms for reliability, ordering, or flow control if these are needed, rather than relying on the transport layer to provide them. This approach can offer advantages in terms of lower latency and reduced overhead compared to connection-oriented protocols like TCP. For instance, real-time applications like online gaming, video conferencing, or certain Voice over IP (VoIP) services often use UDP and are designed to be datagramfriendly. They can tolerate occasional packet loss or reordering, and their priority is speed and responsiveness.

Conversely, applications that are not datagramfriendly might experience issues if they are forced to use UDP without appropriate adaptations. They might lose critical data, receive it out of order, or struggle with the lack of guaranteed delivery. Designing for datagramfriendliness involves acknowledging and managing the inherent unreliability of datagram transmission, often by building in application-level checks and recovery procedures.