UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a transport layer protocol used for communication between applications on a network. It operates by sending packets of data, called datagrams, over the network without establishing a connection between the sender and receiver.
UDP uses port numbers to identify the type of service or application that is using it. Port numbers range from 0 to 65535, with ports 0-1023 being reserved for well-known services and protocols.
Some common UDP ports include:
- DNS (Domain Name System) - Port 53
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - Ports 67 and 68
- TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) - Port 69
- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - Ports 161 and 162
- NTP (Network Time Protocol) - Port 123
Applications can use any available port number for their communication needs, but it’s important to avoid using well-known ports to prevent conflicts with other services on the network.