This blog post is part of our Akamai Explains series – a collection of posts that break down the infrastructure behind the internet. This week we explain the TCP three-way handshake. \r\n \r\n The TCP three-way handshake is one of the critical building blocks of the internet. It facilitates the smooth and consistent flow of information across and among different networks. \r\n The handshake is a data-sharing process that involves a back-and-forth communication between a client (for example a mobile phone or Smart TV) and a server. The purpose of this communication is to establish a secure and reliable connection so that data (files, images, videos, etc.) can be transferred efficiently between the systems.  \r\n Why is the TCP three-way handshake important? \r\n The TCP three-way handshake has become the de facto way of sharing data across networks because it is so robust.…