The Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP) is a network protocol designed to reserve bandwidth for real-time applications, such as video and audio streaming. It allows devices on a network to request and allocate the necessary resources to ensure smooth data transmission, minimizing delays and interruptions. SRP operates by enabling communication between endpoints and network devices, ensuring that the required bandwidth is available before the data stream begins. This is particularly useful in environments where multiple streams compete for limited network resources, helping to maintain quality of service for applications like Voice over IP and video conferencing.