The server waits for the second request byte while Nagle waits for acknowledgment of the first.

Nagle and delayed ACK can stall the second part of a small request

Nagle’s algorithm reduces small TCP segments by holding additional short data while earlier data remains unacknowledged, unless enough data accumulates for a full segment. Delayed acknowledgment is a separate receiver behavior that can postpone an ACK briefly. The interaction matters when an application sends a request in multiple small writes and the peer needs the later bytes before producing a response. ...

October 31, 2027 · 6 min · XB Field Notes