Which layer does TCP operate at?

TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, operates at the Transport layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. This layer is primarily responsible for providing reliable communication between devices across a network. TCP facilitates error checking and ensures the delivery of data packets in the correct order, making it a connection-oriented protocol. Through functions like flow control, segmentation, and error recovery, it enhances the reliability and integrity of the data transfer process.

In contrast, the Physical layer relates to the transmission of raw bits over a physical medium, the Network layer deals with the routing and forwarding of packets across networks, and the Application layer focuses on providing network services to end-user applications. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific role TCP plays in networking and how it interacts with other layers of the OSI model.