CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

The correct response identifies that both TCP and UDP can use any port number ranging from 0 to 65535. This range encompasses the well-known ports, registered ports, and dynamic/private ports. Port numbers are essential for differentiating between multiple services running on the same device, and both TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) allow for the use of these ports for various applications.

TCP, being a connection-oriented protocol, ensures reliable communication, while UDP, a connectionless protocol, is used for applications where speed is more critical than reliability. While each protocol has its conventional ports (for example, HTTP typically operates over TCP port 80), there is no restriction preventing either from using the same port number for different purposes. This flexibility is crucial for network configuration, allowing administrators to define services based on their needs while utilizing the same numerical range across varying protocols.