At which layer of the TCP/IP network model does IP operate?

IP, or Internet Protocol, operates at the Network layer of the TCP/IP model. This layer is responsible for logical addressing and routing of packets across different networks. It manages how data is sent from one host to another, ensuring that packets are directed to the correct destination, regardless of the physical networks they traverse. The Network layer also handles fragmentation and reassembly of packets if they have to cross networks with different maximum transmission units (MTUs).

The other layers have different responsibilities: the Application layer deals with user interfaces and application-level protocols; the Transport layer manages end-to-end communication and error correction for data transmission; and the Data Link layer focuses on node-to-node data transfer and frame timing, addressing, and error detection. Understanding that IP functions primarily at the Network layer clarifies its role in facilitating communication between devices across diverse and interlinked networks.