Difference between RTS/CTS and DTR/DSR flow control

1. Request To Send/Clear To Send : RTS/CTS, as name suggests, is a flow mechanism in which Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) i.e. host assets or send RTS to Data Communication Equipment (DCE). This is simply done to indicate that host is ready to send data and modem can initiate or form a communication channel. Then DCE further asserts or send CTS to grant permission i.e. yes you can send data. RTS simply indicates that host wants to send some data where as CTS simply indicates that yes you can start sending data. Here, host can be computer or any other device and DCE can be modem. 2. Data Terminal Ready/Data Set Ready : DTR/DSR, as name suggests, is a flow mechanism in which DTE i.e. host asserts or send DTR to DCE i.e. modem simply to indicate that host is ready for communication and modem can start or create a communication channel. DCE then further assets DSR to simply indicate that receiver is ready for communication.
Difference between RTS/CTS and DTR/DSR :

RTS/CTS	DTR/DSR
While using RTS/CTS, there is a lot of buffering by hardware.	While using DTR/DSR flow control, there is no buffering.
It is used in different fields such as Academic, Vending, Industrial, etc.	It is used in different fields such as POS (Point of Sale), Printers, EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale), etc.
It can also be used for controlling flow of data among host and device.	It can also be used for controlling flow of data, handshaking as well as providing power also.
RTS simply indicates that it wants to send data to device that is being connected.	DTR simply indicates that device that is being connected is ready to receive data.
RTS only start and stop communication.	DTR also indicates that there are some equipment present.
RTS/CTS lines are not driven by firmware. Instead, they are controlled and driven by hardware.	DTR/DSR lines are generally driven be firmware in adapters.