Which protocol provides a reliable, connection-oriented method for sending data?

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is the correct answer because it is designed to establish a reliable connection between two devices before data transfer begins. TCP ensures that all data packets sent from the sender are received in the correct order and at the destination without loss or duplication. It achieves this through a process called handshaking, where a connection is established before communication starts, and acknowledgments are sent back to confirm receipt of packets.

Additionally, TCP uses mechanisms such as flow control and error checking, which help maintain the integrity of the data during transmission. If any data packets are lost or corrupted, TCP will retransmit these packets until they are successfully delivered. This contrasts with other protocols like UDP, which does not provide these reliability features and instead allows for faster transmission by foregoing the overhead associated with connection establishment and error correction.

IPv4 is a network layer protocol that is primarily concerned with addressing and routing packets between devices on a network, rather than providing a method for reliable data transmission. The application layer refers to the top layer in the OSI model and consists of various application-specific protocols, but it is not a protocol itself focused on data transmission reliability. Thus, the unique qualities of TCP make it the standard protocol for reliable, connection-oriented communication in networking.