Which OSI layer is identified as Layer 6 in the model?

• A. Application Layer
• B. Presentation Layer
• C. Transport Layer
• D. Session Layer

Answer: (B)

Layer 6 in the OSI model is the Presentation Layer. Its job is to format and translate data so the receiving end can understand it, acting as the bridge between the data sent by the session layer and the application layer that uses the data. This includes tasks like character encoding (for example UTF-8), data formatting, compression to save bandwidth, and encryption/decryption to protect content. By standardizing how data is represented, the Presentation Layer ensures interoperability between different systems.

The Application Layer above provides user-facing services, while the Session Layer below manages conversations and synchronization between endpoints, and the Transport Layer handles reliable end-to-end delivery. Because those layers handle services, sessions, and transport, they don’t perform the data formatting and encoding duties that define the Presentation Layer.