Description: SYN is a flag in the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) used to initiate a connection between two devices on a network. This flag is part of the connection establishment process known as the ‘three-way handshake’. When a device wants to establish a TCP connection with another, it sends a packet with the SYN flag set. This packet indicates that the device is ready to initiate communication and requests a connection. The receiving device, upon receiving this packet, responds with a packet that has both the SYN and ACK (Acknowledgment) flags set, confirming the receipt of the request and accepting the connection. Finally, the initiating device sends a third packet with the ACK flag set to complete the connection process. This mechanism is essential to ensure that both parties are ready for data transmission, thus establishing a reliable communication channel. The use of the SYN flag is crucial in the context of TCP/IP networks, where precise control over connection establishment and management is required to ensure the integrity and sequencing of transmitted data.
