Which layer of the OSI model is concerned with data formatting, encryption, and compression?

The correct choice is focused on the Presentation layer of the OSI model, which is specifically responsible for the formatting of data so that it can be properly processed by the application layer above it. This involves converting data into a standard format, such as translating character encoding (e.g., ASCII to Unicode), and managing how data is presented to users or applications.

Additionally, the Presentation layer plays a critical role in security through encryption, which ensures that data is securely transmitted over the network. When data is sent across a network, it might be compressed to reduce its size for more efficient transmission; the Presentation layer handles this process as well.

In contrast, while the Transport layer is primarily concerned with end-to-end communication and reliability of data transmission, the Application layer interacts directly with software applications to provide various services, and the Session layer manages sessions between applications. These layers do not address data formatting, compression, or encryption as their core functions, making the Presentation layer the appropriate choice for this question.