Transport layer aggregates data from different applications into a single stream before passing it to

The statement in the question seems to be a bit misleading. Let’s clarify the roles within the OSI model, particularly focusing on the transport layer.

The Transport layer, operating at Layer 4 of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, plays a crucial role in facilitating communication between two systems. It does not aggregate data from different applications into a single stream before passing it on. Instead, its primary functions include:

1. Segmentation and Reassembly: It segments long messages into smaller packets at the source, then reassembles these packets at the destination.
2. Connection Management: Manages connections between the source and destination, including establishing, maintaining, and terminating connections.
3. Error Control and Correction: Ensures reliable data transfer through error detection and correction mechanisms.
4. Flow Control: Manages the rate of data transmission between the sender and receiver to prevent overwhelming the receiver.
5. Multiplexing: This is probably what the question hints at. However, it’s slightly misrepresented. The Transport layer does support multiplexing, which involves combining data streams or packets from multiple applications into a single physical connection, but this is based on the use of different port numbers rather than aggregating different application data into a single stream. Each application data packet sent by the transport layer contains a header with a specific port number that helps in distinguishing different application data streams at the receiver’s end.

Therefore, a more accurate statement might be: The Transport layer facilitates the transmission of