Functions of Transport Layer
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In the world of computer networks, the Transport Layer, which is the fourth layer in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, plays a crucial role in managing end-to-end communication over a network.
Let’s dive into the functions of the Transport Layer and explore its significance in network communication.
Key Functions of the Transport Layer
Key Functions of the Transport Layer
- Process-to-Process Delivery:
Unlike the Network Layer, which handles the delivery of data between two devices, the Transport Layer ensures that the data is delivered to the correct process on the destination device. For instance, when an HTTP client sends a request, the Transport Layer ensures that the data reaches the specific process serving HTTP on the server by using the destination port number. Segmentation:
This is the division of actual application’s continuous data stream into smaller parts, which are then encapsulated into segments. This segmentation is essential for managing the size of data transmissions, especially when the underlying network has limitations on the size of packets it can handle.Connection-Oriented and Connectionless Communication:
The Transport Layer can provide two types of communication services: connection-oriented and connectionless.- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): This is a connection-oriented protocol that establishes a connection before data can be sent. It ensures reliable and ordered delivery of a stream of bytes. TCP is like forming an agreement to reliably deliver data, through the use of sequence numbers, acknowledgments, and flow control concepts.
- UDP (User Datagram Protocol): On the other hand, UDP is connectionless and does not establish a prior connection. It allows for the rapid transmission of data but does not guarantee delivery. This is suitable for applications like video streaming or online gaming, where speed is more critical than reliability.