Which layer is responsible for getting data from one node to another?

The Network layer is responsible for getting data from one node to another by determining the best pathway for the transmission of packets across the network. This layer's primary role is to handle packet forwarding, including routing through intermediate routers. When data is sent over a network, the Network layer encapsulates data into packets and adds necessary addressing information, such as IP addresses, which allows the data to be directed to the correct destination.

By managing how data packets are transmitted between devices, the Network layer ensures that the data reaches its intended recipient reliably and efficiently, regardless of the underlying physical network structure. This involves choosing and maintaining routes across various interconnected networks.

In this context, the Transport layer, while also important, focuses on end-to-end communication between applications, rather than the routing of packets. The Application layer handles high-level protocols and data formatting, and the Data Link layer manages node-to-node data transfer, but these layers do not perform the overall routing that the Network layer is designed to execute.