Why is UDP preferred over TCP for low-latency applications like VoIP?

UDP is preferred for low-latency applications like VoIP because it operates without acknowledgments, retransmissions, or flow control. This "fire and forget" approach minimizes overhead and delay, which is crucial for real-time communication where slight delays are more detrimental than occasional lost packets. TCP, on the other hand, guarantees reliable delivery by requiring acknowledgments for every segment sent. If an acknowledgment isn't received, TCP retransmits the data, adding latency. While this reliability is vital for data integrity (e.g., file transfers), it's counterproductive for VoIP, where a slightly delayed but eventually delivered packet is often useless. The other options are incorrect: UDP does not guarantee reliable delivery, nor does it use sequencing for ordered arrival in the same way TCP does. TCP uses congestion control, but UDP does not use flow control mechanisms in the same sense.