Final answer:
The receiver can send an acknowledgment in UDP-based communication by utilizing application layer protocols that implement their own acknowledgment mechanisms, despite UDP itself lacking inherent reliability features.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, it is possible for the receiver to send an acknowledgment to the sender in a connectionless communication protocol like UDP (User Datagram Protocol) in the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) suite. Unlike TCP, UDP does not have a built-in mechanism for reliability or acknowledgment as it is designed for speed and minimal protocol overhead. However, applications that use UDP can implement their own acknowledgment system.
For example, when a message is received, the application layer can send a separate UDP packet back to the sender indicating that the message has been received successfully. This is how protocols like DNS (Domain Name System) operate, using UDP while still providing confirmation of receipt. An application developer has to specifically design this functionality as it is not natively provided by the UDP protocol.