UDP checksum in IPv4: is it mandatory or optional?

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Multiple Choice

UDP checksum in IPv4: is it mandatory or optional?

Explanation:
In IPv4, the UDP checksum is optional. The UDP header includes a 16-bit checksum field, but RFC 768 allows this value to be zero, meaning no checksum is used. When a non-zero checksum is present, it is calculated over the UDP header, UDP payload, and a pseudo-header that includes the IPv4 source and destination addresses, protocol, and UDP length, and is then validated by the receiver. In contrast, in IPv6 the UDP checksum is mandatory. So the best answer is that the UDP checksum in IPv4 is optional.

In IPv4, the UDP checksum is optional. The UDP header includes a 16-bit checksum field, but RFC 768 allows this value to be zero, meaning no checksum is used. When a non-zero checksum is present, it is calculated over the UDP header, UDP payload, and a pseudo-header that includes the IPv4 source and destination addresses, protocol, and UDP length, and is then validated by the receiver. In contrast, in IPv6 the UDP checksum is mandatory. So the best answer is that the UDP checksum in IPv4 is optional.

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