Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for data encryption?

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Accepted Answer

Presentation Layer - Presentation Layer. In the OSI model, the Presentation Layer (Layer 6) is responsible for the translation of data between a networking service and an application. This includes functions like:

Data encryption and decryption
Data compression
Character code translation (e.g., ASCII to EBCDIC)


Encryption at this layer ensures that data is securely encoded before it is transmitted across the network, making it unreadable to unauthorized parties.

Explanation of other layers:

Session Layer: Manages sessions between applications.
Transport Layer: Provides reliable data transfer with error checking and flow control.
Application Layer: Interfaces directly with the user and applications, but not responsible for encryption itself.

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