To ensure that products from various manufacturers can communicate with each other, network models have been created.
A protocol, which is part of software, is what makes a network work. The model describes what needs to be done, and the protocol performs the work.
protocol Rules that define how network devices communicate with each other and perform specific tasks. The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model consists of seven layers that define how data are sent from a computer, through the network, and into a receiving computer.
Understanding each layer and how each one interacts with other layers helps you understand how networks operate. Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model An international standard that is a guide for networking. Defines how data are sent from a computer, through the network, and into a receiving computer. Also called the OSI model. The OSI model provides a description of how network hardware and software work together in a layered fashion to make communications between computers possible. Each layer includes different network activities, equipment, or protocols.
Layers are separated from each other by boundaries called interfaces.
interface The connection that provides communication between layers. It also shields neighboring layers from the details of how services are implemented.