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This lesson examines the TCP/IP model — the layered architecture that underpins all internet communication — and explains how data is divided into packets and transmitted using packet switching.
The TCP/IP model (also called the Internet Protocol Suite) organises network communication into four layers. Each layer has a specific job and uses particular protocols. The layers work together like a stack — data passes down through the layers when being sent, and up through the layers when being received.
| Layer | Name | Purpose | Example Protocols |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Application | Provides services directly to the user/application | HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, IMAP, SSH, DNS |
| 3 | Transport | Breaks data into segments, ensures reliable delivery | TCP, UDP |
| 2 | Internet | Adds IP addresses and routes packets across networks | IP (IPv4/IPv6) |
| 1 | Network Interface (Link) | Handles the physical transmission of data over the network medium | Ethernet, Wi-Fi (802.11) |
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