What type of communication ensures data is processed in a specific order?

Connection-oriented communication is designed to establish a dedicated communication path between the sender and receiver before transmitting data. This method is crucial for applications where the sequence of data packets is essential, such as streaming video or voice calls. In connection-oriented communication, data packets are sent in an established sequence, and the protocol ensures that they are received in the same order. If any packets are lost during transmission, the protocol typically has mechanisms to retransmit those packets, thus preserving the integrity of the data sequence.

Unlike unreliable communication, which may not guarantee the delivery or the order of packets, or asynchronous communication, where data can be sent at irregular intervals without synchronization, connection-oriented communication provides a reliable and ordered data transfer. Broadcast communication, on the other hand, distributes information to multiple recipients simultaneously, but it does not inherently manage the order of data packets for individual receivers.

In summary, connection-oriented communication is the method that ensures data is processed and delivered in a specific, reliable order, making it vital for applications where such order is critical.