Application Layer (Layer 7)
At the very top of the OSI Reference Model stack of layers, you find layer 7, the application layer. Continuing the trend that you saw in layers 5 and 6, this one is also named very appropriately. The application layer is the one that is used by network applications. These programs are what actually implement the functions performed by users to accomplish various tasks over the network.
It's important to understand that what the OSI model calls an application is not exactly the same as what you normally think of as an application. In the OSI model, the application layer provides services for user applications to employ.
For example, when you use your web browser, that actual software is an application running on your ...
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