TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol. It is one of the main protocols in the Internet Protocol (IP) suite and operates at the transport layer of the OSI model. TCP provides reliable, connection-oriented communication between devices over a network. It ensures that data is transmitted efficiently, accurately, and in the correct order between devices, making it a fundamental protocol for reliable data transfer on the internet. TCP is often used in conjunction with the Internet Protocol (IP), forming the TCP/IP protocol suite that underlies the functionality of the internet.