To open a TCP connection, the client sends SYN, the server replies with SYN-ACK, and the client returns ACK. Both sides have now acknowledged the other side’s initial sequence number.
The three arrows in the demo follow the packet order. This exchange starts a reliable connection; retransmission and ordered delivery continue during the later data transfer.
When to use
Use it when diagnosing connection latency or reading the opening packets of a TCP capture.