Which of the following describes connectionless protocols?

Connectionless protocols are characterized by their ability to send data without establishing a dedicated path or connection between the sender and the receiver prior to transmission. This means that these protocols can transmit packets of data independently, without needing to negotiate or confirm the availability of the recipient or the status of the network path. This characteristic allows for lower overhead, faster transmission times, and an efficient means for transmitting small bursts of data throughout a network, particularly useful in scenarios where speed is essential and perfect delivery isn't required.

In contrast, other options describe functionalities that are more characteristic of connection-oriented protocols. For instance, establishing a direct connection first implies a connection-oriented approach, while the notion of guaranteeing data delivery also aligns with connection-oriented methods where mechanisms for ensuring reliable transmission (like acknowledgments and retransmissions) are implemented. Lastly, the mention of being designed for large file transfers leans towards specific use cases that typically employ connection-oriented protocols due to their ability to manage large data streams reliably.