Java Architect Handbook

May 25, 2026 · Fundamentals

Interview Torture: What Are TCP Sticky/Unsticky Packet Issues and Why They Matter

The article explains that TCP's byte‑stream nature causes sticky and unpacked packet problems, analyzes why they occur, compares UDP, and presents four application‑layer solutions—especially the Header‑Body length‑field approach used by Netty—providing code examples and interview‑ready answers.