CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which layer of the OSI model is primarily associated with handling end-to-end communication?

1. Data Link layer

2. Transport layer

3. Session layer

4. Application layer

The correct answer is: Transport layer

The Transport layer plays a crucial role in managing end-to-end communication between devices across a network. This layer is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and terminating connections, and it handles the segmentation of data, ensuring that messages are delivered over the network reliably and in the correct sequence. It provides flow control, error detection, and retransmission of lost data, which are essential for maintaining the integrity of communications. The Transport layer also offers different types of communication protocols, such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) for connection-oriented communication that guarantees delivery, and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) for connectionless communication. This flexibility enables applications to choose the most suitable method of data transmission based on their specific requirements. In contrast, other layers have distinct functions that do not specifically focus on end-to-end communication. The Data Link layer is more concerned with local area networking and facilitates data transfer between directly connected devices. The Session layer manages sessions and controls the dialogue between applications but does not handle data transportation. Meanwhile, the Application layer deals with interface and user processes rather than the mechanics of data transmission itself.