In the
OSI model, the
Application Layer is the top layer (Layer 7). It provides services that support end-user processes such as web browsing, email, file transfers, and more.
Lets break down each option:
- SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) – This protocol is used for sending emails. It works at the Application Layer.
- HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) – This protocol is used for accessing web pages. It also operates at the Application Layer.
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) – While DHCP handles IP assignment and works closely with the lower layers, it is still considered part of the Application Layer because it uses the client-server communication model for IP management.
- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) – This is the correct answer. TCP is NOT an Application Layer protocol. It works at the Transport Layer (Layer 4) of the OSI model. TCP ensures reliable data transmission between devices, handles sequencing, acknowledgments, and error recovery.
Summary:
- Application Layer = SMTP, HTTP, DHCP (they interact with end-user applications)
- Transport Layer = TCP (manages reliable data delivery, but doesn’t interact with user-facing applications directly)
Conclusion: The correct answer is TCP. It does not belong to the Application Layer but to the Transport Layer. Knowing protocol-to-layer mapping is very important for exams and job interviews in networking and cybersecurity.
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