ECN (Explicit Congestion Notification)

Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) is a network feature that helps manage data traffic congestion without dropping packets. When a network link becomes crowded, instead of discarding some data packets, the routers mark these packets to signal the sender that there is congestion. The sender, upon receiving this signal, can then reduce its data transmission rate to ease the load, reducing delays and maintaining smoother communication. ECN improves network efficiency by proactively addressing congestion, leading to better performance and fewer interruptions during data transfers.