Which OSI layer handles IP addresses for routing?

Which OSI layer handles IP addresses for routing?

• A. Network Layer
• B. Data Link Layer
• C. Transport Layer
• D. Application Layer

Answer: (A)

Routing across multiple networks relies on the Network Layer, which provides logical addressing and path determination. IP addresses serve as the logical identifiers that routers use to decide where to send packets next, guiding data from source to destination across many hops. Routers operate at this layer, making decisions based on the destination IP to forward traffic toward its endpoint. The Data Link Layer handles local, within-subnet delivery using MAC addresses and doesn’t route between networks. The Transport Layer focuses on end-to-end delivery between processes, using ports and reliability features rather than network-wide addressing. The Application Layer deals with userServices and protocols rather than routing or addressing. So, IP addresses for routing are handled by the Network Layer.

Routing across multiple networks relies on the Network Layer, which provides logical addressing and path determination. IP addresses serve as the logical identifiers that routers use to decide where to send packets next, guiding data from source to destination across many hops. Routers operate at this layer, making decisions based on the destination IP to forward traffic toward its endpoint.

The Data Link Layer handles local, within-subnet delivery using MAC addresses and doesn’t route between networks. The Transport Layer focuses on end-to-end delivery between processes, using ports and reliability features rather than network-wide addressing. The Application Layer deals with userServices and protocols rather than routing or addressing.

So, IP addresses for routing are handled by the Network Layer.