Your question is TCP Handshake Deep Dive. Take a moment with it on the right.
Talk me through your thinking if you like. When you're confident, submit your answer and I'll grade it like a real screen (7/10 or better passes).
How does the TCP handshake work behind the scenes?
Asked in the Google HR Screening stage. Explain the packet exchange between a client and server, including SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK, sequence numbers, connection state transitions, and what happens when packets are lost, duplicated, delayed, or rejected. Discuss how the handshake establishes bidirectional readiness and how TCP protects against stale connection attempts.