OSI 7 Layers (Easy explanation)
7) Application (L7) — “User services”
What it does: services used by apps/users (web, email, DNS).
Examples: browser, email app.
6) Presentation (L6) — “Format / compress / encrypt”
What it does:
o Translation (format changes like ASCII ↔ EBCDIC)
o Encryption/Decryption
o Compression (reduce size)
5) Session (L5) — “Start/maintain/end the session”
What it does:
o session setup, maintenance, termination
o controls dialog (half/full duplex)
o can involve authentication/security
4) Transport (L4) — “End-to-end delivery”
What it does:
o breaks data into segments (segmentation)
o ensures delivery with acknowledgment + retransmission
o uses port numbers (service point addressing)
Protocols use: TCP/UDP.
3) Network (L3) — “Routing using IP”
What it does:
o sends data across different networks
o chooses best path (routing)
o uses IP addresses (logical addressing)
Device: Router
2) Data Link (L2) — “Node-to-node delivery”
What it does:
o makes frames
o uses MAC addresses
o error control (detect/retransmit damaged frames)
o flow control
o has two sublayers: LLC and MAC
Devices: Switch, Bridge
1) Physical (L1) — “Signals and bits”
What it does:
o sends raw bits as electrical/optical/radio signals
o bit synchronization, bit rate control
Devices: Hub, Repeater, Modem, Cables
Data units (what data is called at each layer)
L1: Bits
L2: Frame
L3: Packet
L4: Segment
TCP/IP model (4 layers)
TCP/IP is a layered model used to move data across networks (especially the
Internet). It splits communication into 4 layers, and each layer has a job.
1) Link layer (Network Access)
Combines OSI Physical + Data Link
Handles: sending data on the local network
Deals with: frames, MAC addresses, Ethernet/Wi-Fi
Examples: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP
2) Internet layer
Same idea as OSI Network layer
Handles: IP addressing + routing (getting packets across different
networks)
Key protocols:
o IP (IPv4/IPv6): delivers packets using IP addresses
o ICMP: reports network problems
o ARP: finds a device’s hardware (MAC) address using its IP
3) Transport layer
Handles: end-to-end delivery between devices
Makes sure data reaches the right app using port numbers
Main protocols:
o TCP: reliable (ordering, acknowledgments, retransmission)
o UDP: faster but not reliable (no connection setup, no guaranteed
delivery)
4) Application layer
Where user applications use the network
Includes what OSI splits into Application + Presentation + Session
Examples: HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, SSH, NTP
How TCP/IP sends data (easy flow)
1. Sender breaks data into packets
2. Packets move down the layers to be sent
3. Receiver gets packets and reassembles them into the original data
Quick TCP vs IP (super short)
IP = finds where to send it (addressing + routing)
TCP = makes sure it arrives correctly (reliable delivery)
OSI vs TCP/IP (simple comparison)
Topic OSI Model TCP/IP Model
A reference/teaching model (explains
What it is A real working model used on the Internet
networking clearly)
Layers 7 layers 4 layers (sometimes shown as 5)
Very detailed (separate layers for Session + More merged/simplified (those are inside
Layer detail
Presentation) Application)
Real-world Mostly used for learning/troubleshooting Used for actual communication on
use concepts networks
“Build first”: protocols came first, then
Design style “Plan first”: model came first, then protocols
model
Examples (Model) not tied to specific protocols (Protocols) TCP, IP, UDP, HTTP, DNS, etc.
Mapping in the easiest way
OSI (7) TCP/IP (4)
Application + Presentation + Session Application
Transport Transport
Network Internet
Data Link + Physical Link / Network Access
NOTE:
OSI = explains how networking works
TCP/IP = makes networking work (Internet)