HTTP operates at which layer of the OSI model?

• A. Layer 6
• B. Layer 5
• C. Layer 7
• D. Layer 3

Answer: (C)

HTTP, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol, operates at Layer 7 of the OSI model, which is the Application Layer. This layer is responsible for enabling end-user services and facilitates communication between applications over the network.

At the Application Layer, protocols like HTTP handle specific application-level functionalities, such as how messages are formatted, transmitted, and interpreted by web browsers and servers. This is where users interact with web services, allowing them to retrieve or send information over the internet.

Being at Layer 7 means that HTTP relies on the underlying layers to manage the transmission of data packets and ensures that the data reaches its destination accurately. The combination of these layers allows for a seamless experience in web browsing and other internet services, which depend on HTTP for transferring hypertext documents.

The other choices refer to different layers that serve various purposes in the network protocol stack, but they do not correspond to the function of HTTP specifically.