Nagle’s Algorithm (TCP)
- Purpose: Reduces the number of small packets on the network by combining small messages.
- Problem: Sending many tiny packets can inefficiently use bandwidth.
Mechanism: 1. Buffer: If unacknowledged data is in flight, new small messages are buffered. 2. Transmit when: - Previous data is acknowledged. - Buffer fills up to the maximum segment size. - A timer expires (typically 200 ms).
To Disable: Use the TCP_NODELAY socket option. Useful for
applications where low latency is more critical than efficient bandwidth
use.