OSI Model Visualizer - Interactive Learning Tool

Sender

Application L7

Presentation L6

Session L5

Transport L4

Network L3

Data Link L2

Physical L1

Click "Start Encapsulation" to begin

How Encapsulation Works

Data starts at the Application layer (L7) and travels down through each layer. At each layer, a header (and sometimes a trailer) is added to the data. This process is called encapsulation.

Receiver

L7 Application

L6 Presentation

L5 Session

L4 Transport

L3 Network

L2 Data Link

L1 Physical

Layer 7 Application

Layer 6 Presentation

Layer 5 Session

Layer 4 Transport

Layer 3 Network

Layer 2 Data Link

Layer 1 Physical

Scenario: You're sending an email

Watch how your email travels through all 7 layers of the OSI model!

Your Computer

192.168.1.10

Email Server

mail.server.com

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Layer 7: Application

Your email client (Outlook, Gmail) creates the email message using the SMTP protocol. This is where you compose your message and click "Send".

Question 1 of 10

Score: 0