The OSI Model

The OSI Model stands for the Open Systems Interconnection Model. It is a set of layers that define how data is transmitted between computers on a network. Each layer is responsible for a specific task and the layers interact with each other to provide the functionality for the communication process. Think of the OSI Model like a layer cake. Each layer of the cake is responsible for a different task. The bottom layer is responsible for the physical connection, such as the cables used to connect the computers. The next layer is responsible for the data link, which is responsible for the transmission of data. The next layer is responsible for the network layer, which is responsible for routing the data to its destination. The next layer is responsible for the transport layer, which is responsible for ensuring reliable data transfer. The next layer is responsible for the session layer, which manages the communication between the two computers. The last layer is responsible for the presentation layer, which is responsible for the formatting of the data. An example of how the OSI Model works is like this: Say you want to send an email to a friend. You will first type the email in your computer. This is the application layer, which is responsible for allowing you to interact with the computer. The email is then sent to the transport layer, which ensures that the data is sent reliably. The email is then sent to the network layer, which is responsible for routing the data to its destination. Finally, the email is sent to the data link layer, which is responsible for physically sending the data over the network. One fun fact about the OSI Model is that it was created in 1984 and is still in use today. It has been adopted by many major networking protocols, such as TCP/IP, and is used by most computer networks around the world.