UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless transport protocol that is suited for high-speed data transfers where some data loss is tolerable. It has minimal overhead because it does not establish a connection before sending data and does not guarantee data delivery or order. This makes it ideal for applications like streaming, where speed is more critical than absolute reliability. In contrast, TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is connection-oriented and ensures data is sent reliably with acknowledgment packets and ordered delivery, which introduces more overhead. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is primarily used for diagnostic purposes, not for data transport.