AP Computer Science Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The primary function of TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, is to guarantee reliable transmission of messages across a network. TCP achieves this by implementing a connection-oriented communication approach, ensuring that data sent from one endpoint to another arrives accurately and in the correct order.

When data is transmitted using TCP, it breaks down the information into smaller packets, adds sequence numbers to each packet, and sends them to the destination. The receiving device acknowledges the receipt of these packets, allowing the sender to know which packets have been successfully received and which, if any, need to be retransmitted. This process helps prevent the loss of data and ensures that messages are not only transmitted but are also complete and intact.

In contrast, the other options focus on different functionalities that are not related to the primary role of TCP. Encryption of data packets is typically managed by protocols such as SSL/TLS, while cloud storage management involves different technologies and protocols that deal with data storage rather than transmission. Tracking user browsing habits is often the role of analytics services or tracking cookies, which do not pertain to the transmission control functions provided by TCP.