Which layer of the OSI model does the MAC address operate at?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which layer of the OSI model does the MAC address operate at?
Application Layer
Transport Layer
Network Layer
Data Link Layer
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which layer of the OSI model does the MAC address operate at?
Step 1: Understand what the OSI model is. It is a framework that describes how different networking protocols interact in seven layers.
Step 2: Identify the layers of the OSI model. They are: 1) Physical, 2) Data Link, 3) Network, 4) Transport, 5) Session, 6) Presentation, 7) Application.
Step 3: Learn about MAC addresses. A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment.
Step 4: Determine where the MAC address fits in the OSI model. The MAC address is used for data transfer between devices on the same local network.
Step 5: Conclude that since the MAC address is used for node-to-node communication, it operates at the Data Link Layer.