UDP, or User Datagram Protocol, is a connectionless and lightweight transport layer protocol in computer networking. It is used for transmitting data over a network with minimal overhead and without the reliability and error-checking features found in protocols like TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).
UDP is often chosen for applications where speed and efficiency are prioritized over guaranteed data delivery. It's commonly employed for real-time applications such as streaming media, online gaming, and voice over IP (VoIP), where occasional data loss or out-of-order delivery may be acceptable, and the emphasis is on reducing latency and achieving higher transmission speeds.