top of page

Explain three way handshake.

Three Way Handshake or TCP-Three Way Handshake is a process that computers use to establish a connection when they want to communicate with each other over the internet or a network. It's like a polite conversation between two computers before they start exchanging data. Let’s understand in simple terms:


Imagine you want to have a chat with a friend, but you're not sure if they're ready to talk. So, you follow this three-step process to make sure you're both on the same page:


Step 1: SYN (Synchronize) packet ["Hey, Are You There?"]

You (your computer) send a message to your friend (the other computer) saying, "Hey, are you there? I want to talk." This is like the first computer saying, "Let's start a connection." This message is called a SYN (synchronize) packet.


Step 2: SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledge) packet ["Yes, I'm Here!"]

Your friend receives your message and replies, "Yes, I'm here, and I want to talk too!" They also acknowledge the request and say, "I got your message." This is like the second computer saying, "I'm ready to connect, and I heard you." This reply message is called a SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledge) packet.


Step 3: ACK (acknowledge) packet ["Great, Let's Talk!"]

You get your friend's reply, and you're both on the same page now. So, you respond, "Great, let's start our conversation!" This is like the first computer saying, "I got your reply, and I'm ready to talk as well." This message is an ACK (acknowledge) packet.


Now that both computers have exchanged these three messages, they're connected and can start sending data back and forth, just like you and your friend can start your conversation after making sure you're both ready.


The three-way handshake ensures that both computers are in agreement and ready to communicate before they start sending data. It's a way to establish a reliable connection and avoid confusion, much like the way you'd confirm with your friend that they're available before having a conversation.



Helpful Resources:

2 views

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page