Which of the following is a protocol used at the Network Layer?

The Network Layer is responsible for routing and logical addressing, and IP is the main protocol that handles these tasks. IP ensures that data is sent from the source to the correct destination, even across multiple networks.

Main features of IP:

• Logical addressing: IP assigns unique addresses to each device using IPv4 or IPv6.


• Packet forwarding: IP helps routers decide how to send data packets to the destination.


• Best-effort delivery: IP does not guarantee delivery but focuses on getting data to the destination.

To understand this better:

• TCP and UDP are Transport Layer protocols (Layer 4).


• FTP is an Application Layer protocol (Layer 7).


• IP is the core protocol used at the Network Layer (Layer 3).

Conclusion: The correct answer is IP. It plays a key role in logical addressing and routing, making it the essential protocol at the Network Layer of the OSI model.