How does TCP handle segment loss?

TCP handles segment loss through a combination of acknowledgments, timeouts, and retransmission. When a sender transmits a segment, it expects an acknowledgment (ACK) from the receiver; if the ACK is not received within a specific timeout period, the sender assumes the segment is lost and retransmits it. Additionally, TCP employs mechanisms like fast retransmit, which triggers retransmission of lost segments based on duplicate ACKs received, allowing for quicker recovery without waiting for a timeout. This robust handling of segment loss ensures reliable data transmission over the network.