In the client-side steps of the handshake, which method finalizes the connection after receiving a SYN/ACK?

• A. The client ends the handshake by sending a FIN
• B. The client ends the handshake by sending an ACK after receiving a SYN/ACK
• C. The client ends the handshake by sending a SYN
• D. The client ends the handshake by sending a RST

Answer: (B)

TCP connections are established using a three-way handshake. After the client receives the server’s SYN-ACK, the final step is for the client to send an ACK. This ACK confirms receipt of the server’s response (acknowledging the server’s sequence number) and completes the handshake, allowing data transfer to begin.

Sending a FIN would terminate an existing connection, not finalize a new one. Sending another SYN would be out of place—it's effectively trying to start a new connection before finishing the current one. Sending a RST would abruptly reset the connection rather than completing the setup.