Which term describes the orderly termination of a TCP connection?

• A. Graceful connection closure
• B. Abrupt termination
• C. Forceful disconnect
• D. Immediate reset

Answer: (A)

Graceful connection closure describes the orderly shutdown of a TCP connection. In TCP, ending a conversation is coordinated with a four-step handshake: one side signals it has no more data to send by sending a FIN, the other side acknowledges that with an ACK, then the other side can finish sending its data and eventually sends its own FIN, which the first side acknowledges. This sequence allows both sides to process any remaining data, update sequence numbers, and release resources cleanly. It ensures that all in-flight data is properly acknowledged before the connection is fully closed, minimizing the chance of data loss or confusion about when the connection actually ends.

This stands in contrast to abrupt termination, where the connection is torn down quickly—often with a reset (RST) or an uncoordinated close—causing unsent data to be discarded and leaving the peer without a clean acknowledgment of closure. Terms like forceful disconnect or immediate reset describe that abrupt termination, not the orderly, cooperative shutdown described above.