The Four TCP/IP Layers Overview
Walk through the link, internet, transport, and application layers.
The Model That Runs the Internet
While the OSI model is the great teaching map, the internet actually runs on the TCP/IP model. TCP/IP is more practical and has just four layers instead of seven. It groups networking functions into broader categories that match how real protocols work. Learning TCP/IP shows you the model behind every connection you make, from email to streaming video.
Four Layers, Not Seven
The TCP/IP model has four layers: the link layer, the internet layer, the transport layer, and the application layer. Each combines duties that OSI splits more finely. Fewer layers make the model simpler to apply to real protocols. As data is sent, it moves down these four layers; as it is received, it moves back up.
All lessons in this course
- The Four TCP/IP Layers Overview
- Comparing TCP/IP With the OSI Model
- How Encapsulation Wraps Your Data
- Tracing a Packet Through the Stack