Difference between Unicast, Broadcast and Multicast in
Computer Network
The cast term here signifies some data(stream of packets) is being transmitted
to the recipient(s) from the client(s) side over the communication channel that
helps them to communicate. Let’s see some of the “cast” concepts that are
prevailing in the computer networks field.
Feature Unicast Broadcast Multicast
A communication A communication A communication
where a message is where a message is where a message is
Definition sent from one sent from one sent from one sender
sender to one sender to all to a group of
receiver. receivers. receivers
Data is sent to all
Data is sent to a Data is sent to a
Transmission recipients in a
single recipient group of recipients
network
Uses a unique Uses a special Uses a special
Addressing
destination address broadcast address multicast address
Not all devices may Not all devices may
Delivery Guaranteed delivery be interested in the be interested in the
data data
Generates the least Generates the most
Network Generates moderate
amount of network amount of network
Traffic network traffic
traffic traffic
Security More secure Less secure because Moderately secure
because data is sent data is sent to all because data is sent
to a specific devices in the to a specific group of
recipient network devices
DHCP requests, Video streaming,
Examples Email, file transfer
ARP requests online gaming
Destination Single receiver All receivers Grop of receivers
Bandwidth
Moderate High Moderate
usage
Latency Low High Moderate
1. Unicast:
This type of information transfer is useful when there is a participation of a
single sender and a single recipient. So, in short, you can term it a one-to-one
transmission. For example, if a device having IP address [Link] in a network
wants to send the traffic stream(data packets) to the device with IP address
[Link] in the other network, then unicast comes into the picture. This is the
most common form of data transfer over networks.
2. Broadcast:
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Broadcasting transfer (one-to-all) techniques can be classified into two types:
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Limited Broadcasting: Suppose you have to send a stream of packets to all
the devices over the network that your reside, this broadcasting comes in
handy. For this to achieve, it will append [Link] (all the 32 bits of IP
address set to 1) called Limited Broadcast Address in the destination address
of the datagram (packet) header which is reserved for information transfer to
all the recipients from a single client (sender) over the network.
Direct Broadcasting: This is useful when a device in one network wants to
transfer packet stream to all the devices over the other network. This is
achieved by translating all the Host ID part bits of the destination address to
1, referred to as Direct Broadcast Address in the datagram header for
information transfer.
This mode is mainly utilized by television networks for video and audio
distribution. One important protocol of this class in Computer Networks is
Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) which is used for resolving an IP address
into a physical address which is necessary for underlying communication.
3. Multicast:
In multicasting, one/more senders and one/more recipients participate in data
transfer traffic. In this method traffic recline between the boundaries of unicast
(one-to-one) and broadcast (one-to-all). Multicast lets servers direct single
copies of data streams that are then simulated and routed to hosts that
request it. IP multicast requires the support of some other protocols like IGMP
(Internet Group Management Protocol), Multicast routing for its work. Also
in Classful IP addressing Class D is reserved for multicast groups.
Questions Corner:
Practicing the following questions will help you test your knowledge. It is
highly recommended that you practice them.
1. Direct Broadcast Address
2. Direct Broadcast Address
3. Direct Broadcast Address
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