Which of the following is an example of data translation handled by the Presentation Layer?

Question

Accepted Answer

Converting EBCDIC to ASCII - The Presentation Layer is the 6th layer of the OSI model and plays a key role in ensuring that the data sent from one system can be understood and used by another system. One of its major responsibilities is data translation.

What is Data Translation?
Data translation means converting data from one format into another so that different computer systems can communicate properly, even if they use different encoding formats. A perfect example of this is the conversion from EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code) to ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange).

Why EBCDIC to ASCII?
Some computers, especially older IBM systems, use EBCDIC. Most modern systems use ASCII. If two systems using these different encodings need to exchange information, the Presentation Layer handles the conversion so the data can be properly interpreted on both sides.

Main Functions of the Presentation Layer:

Data translation (e.g., EBCDIC to ASCII)
Data encryption and decryption (for secure communication)
Data compression and decompression (for faster transmission)


Why This Matters:
In real-world networking, data often moves between different platforms. The Presentation Layer ensures that the meaning of the data remains the same after transmission, by formatting and translating it correctly.

Conclusion: The correct answer is Converting EBCDIC to ASCII. This is a classic and practical example of data translation done by the Presentation Layer in the OSI model.

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