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Telnet better supports interactive terminal applications by exchanging info like the TERM environment setting, screen size, translation codes, etc.

Netcat doesn’t do any of that, but is simpler and better suited for sending or receiving binary data. It also has features that telnet doesn’t, like listening for incoming TCP connections and sending and receiving on UDP ports.

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Obligatory: Telnet is better than netcat for interactive logins, but SSH is even better than Telnet for that. So don't use Telnet.

Agreed.

It's pretty rare to use Telnet these days. The exception is when you have to connect to devices like automation equipment, test equipment, admin ports on LAN switches, etc. Those devices shouldn't be on the internet, so they're not as much of a concern.

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