Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) is a protocol used to secure datagram-based communications. It's based on the stream-focused Transport Layer Security (TLS), providing a similar level of security. As a datagram protocol, DTLS doesn't guarantee the order of message delivery, or even that messages will be delivered at all. However, DTLS gains the benefits of datagram protocols, too; in particular, the lower overhead and reduced latency.

These features are especially useful for one of the most common areas in which DTLS comes into play:WebRTC. All of the WebRTC related protocols are required to encrypt their communications using DTLS; this includesSCTP,SRTP, andSTUN.

See also

• Datagram Transport Layer Security on Wikipedia

• Specifications:

  • RFC 9147: The Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Protocol Version 1.3
  • RFC 6347: Datagram Transport Layer Security Version 1.2

• Related specification

  • RFC 5763: Framework for Establishing a Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) Security Context Using DTLS
  • RFC 5764: DTLS Extension to Establish Keys for the Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP)
  • RFC 6083: DTLS for Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP)
  • RFC 8261: Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Encapsulation of SCTP Packets
  • RFC 7350: Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) as Transport for Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN)
  • RFC 7925: TLS / DTLS Profiles for the Internet of Things