TCP b : Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease & 'Slow Start' - Computerphile
Computerphile
Jun 15, 2026
TCP remains the backbone of internet communication by balancing reliability with congestion control, despite being designed in the 1980s. While classroom models suggest a clean 'sawtooth' pattern of packet flow, real-world data reveals a much messier, complex reality where protocols must adapt to unpredictable network conditions without the ability to significantly change their rigid header structures.
Key insight: The 'slow start' mechanism, despite its name, is actually an aggressive exponential growth phase designed to quickly ramp up data transmission speeds before settling into the more cautious Additive Increase, Multiplicative Decrease (AIMD) cycle.
