In which layer of the OSI model does the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) operate?

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) operates at the Transport layer of the OSI model. This layer is responsible for providing end-to-end communication services for applications. TCP is designed to facilitate reliable data transmission between devices over a network, ensuring that data packets are delivered accurately and in the correct order. It achieves this through features like error detection, flow control, and segmentation of data into manageable pieces.

By functioning at the Transport layer, TCP interacts with both the layers above it (such as the Application layer, which includes protocols like HTTP and FTP) and the layers below it (such as the Network layer, which is responsible for routing packets). This positioning allows TCP to manage how data is sent across the network, ensuring that any lost packets are retransmitted, and that data integrity is maintained throughout the communication process.