Flow control mechanisms manage the pace of data transfer between sender and receiver, protecting against congestion and ensuring the receiver is not overwhelmed. Techniques like window-based and rate-based flow control dynamically adjust transmission rates based on feedback and buffer status.

Protocols such as TCP use acknowledgments and sliding windows to coordinate flow, while explicit signals and buffer management further optimize performance. In modern network fabrics—such as those deployed by Hedgehog—robust flow control is essential for supporting high-throughput, low-latency applications and maintaining overall network health.

Effective flow control is critical for maintaining throughput, minimizing errors, and supporting error recovery in modern networks. Alternatives or complements include congestion avoidance algorithms and traffic shaping for more granular control.