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The correct answer is UDP, which stands for User Datagram Protocol. UDP is a transport layer protocol that operates on a connectionless basis, meaning it does not establish a dedicated end-to-end connection before sending data. This allows for faster data transmission, as it minimizes the overhead typically associated with establishing and maintaining a connection, such as handshakes and acknowledgments.

In contrast to connection-oriented protocols like TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), which requires a connection to be established and ensures reliable delivery of packets (including error checking and correction), UDP simply sends packets called datagrams to the recipient without confirmation that they are received. This makes UDP particularly suitable for applications where speed is crucial, and occasional data loss is acceptable, such as video streaming, online gaming, and real-time communications.

The other protocols listed—SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3)—are application layer protocols related to email communication. While both manage data transfer for email, they do not directly address connectionless communication in the way that UDP does. Hence, UDP stands out as the appropriate choice for a protocol known for its connectionless nature.