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OSI & TCP/IP Model interview questions

57 OSI & TCP/IP Model questions from the Networking bank, written for Indian campus drives and tech interviews. Every question has a verified answer and an AI-tutor explanation on placd.

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1. What is OSI Layer 1 (Physical)?

Junior
  1. A.the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses
  2. B.the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio
  3. C.probing the largest unfragmented packet size along a path using ICMP feedback
  4. D.the Layer 2 PDU containing source/destination MAC addresses and a payload

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2. Which term means: "the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio"?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 5 (Session)
  2. B.Path MTU discovery
  3. C.OSI Layer 1 (Physical)
  4. D.Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)

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3. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 1 (Physical) — the layer where applications and protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP operate
  2. B.OSI Layer 1 (Physical) — Ethernet frames with payloads larger than 1500 bytes, up to ~9000, to reduce overhead
  3. C.OSI Layer 1 (Physical) — the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio
  4. D.OSI Layer 1 (Physical) — the Layer 4 PDU produced by TCP that carries port numbers and sequence data

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4. What is OSI Layer 2 (Data Link)?

Junior
  1. A.the generic name for a unit of data at a layer: frame, packet, segment, or bit
  2. B.the layer that establishes, manages, and terminates sessions between applications
  3. C.stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host
  4. D.the layer that frames data and handles MAC addressing and link-local delivery

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5. Which term means: "the layer that frames data and handles MAC addressing and link-local delivery"?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link)
  2. B.Header overhead
  3. C.Frame
  4. D.OSI Layer 5 (Session)

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6. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link) — Ethernet frames with payloads larger than 1500 bytes, up to ~9000, to reduce overhead
  2. B.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link) — the layer that frames data and handles MAC addressing and link-local delivery
  3. C.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link) — the layer handling data translation, encryption, and compression for the application
  4. D.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link) — the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)

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7. What is OSI Layer 3 (Network)?

Junior
  1. A.probing the largest unfragmented packet size along a path using ICMP feedback
  2. B.the layer that handles logical addressing and routing of packets between networks
  3. C.the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio
  4. D.the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses

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8. Which term means: "the layer that handles logical addressing and routing of packets between networks"?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 4 (Transport)
  2. B.Frame
  3. C.Encapsulation
  4. D.OSI Layer 3 (Network)

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9. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 3 (Network) — the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)
  2. B.OSI Layer 3 (Network) — the largest payload size in bytes a Layer 2 frame can carry, typically 1500 for Ethernet
  3. C.OSI Layer 3 (Network) — Ethernet frames with payloads larger than 1500 bytes, up to ~9000, to reduce overhead
  4. D.OSI Layer 3 (Network) — the layer that handles logical addressing and routing of packets between networks

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10. What is OSI Layer 4 (Transport)?

Junior
  1. A.the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses
  2. B.Ethernet frames with payloads larger than 1500 bytes, up to ~9000, to reduce overhead
  3. C.the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)
  4. D.Link, Internet, Transport, and Application layers mapping loosely onto the OSI model

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11. Which term means: "the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)"?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 5 (Session)
  2. B.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link)
  3. C.OSI Layer 1 (Physical)
  4. D.OSI Layer 4 (Transport)

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12. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 4 (Transport) — the generic name for a unit of data at a layer: frame, packet, segment, or bit
  2. B.OSI Layer 4 (Transport) — the layer handling data translation, encryption, and compression for the application
  3. C.OSI Layer 4 (Transport) — the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)
  4. D.OSI Layer 4 (Transport) — probing the largest unfragmented packet size along a path using ICMP feedback

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13. What is OSI Layer 7 (Application)?

Junior
  1. A.the Layer 2 PDU containing source/destination MAC addresses and a payload
  2. B.the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio
  3. C.the layer where applications and protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP operate
  4. D.Ethernet frames with payloads larger than 1500 bytes, up to ~9000, to reduce overhead

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14. Which term means: "the layer where applications and protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP operate"?

Junior
  1. A.Packet
  2. B.OSI Layer 7 (Application)
  3. C.Demultiplexing
  4. D.Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)

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15. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 7 (Application) — the layer handling data translation, encryption, and compression for the application
  2. B.OSI Layer 7 (Application) — the bytes added by each layer's header that reduce effective payload throughput
  3. C.OSI Layer 7 (Application) — probing the largest unfragmented packet size along a path using ICMP feedback
  4. D.OSI Layer 7 (Application) — the layer where applications and protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP operate

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16. What is Protocol Data Unit (PDU)?

Junior
  1. A.Link, Internet, Transport, and Application layers mapping loosely onto the OSI model
  2. B.the generic name for a unit of data at a layer: frame, packet, segment, or bit
  3. C.stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host
  4. D.the layer that frames data and handles MAC addressing and link-local delivery

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17. Which term means: "the generic name for a unit of data at a layer: frame, packet, segment, or bit"?

Junior
  1. A.OSI Layer 2 (Data Link)
  2. B.Encapsulation
  3. C.Protocol Data Unit (PDU)
  4. D.Segment

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18. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.Protocol Data Unit (PDU) — the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses
  2. B.Protocol Data Unit (PDU) — the generic name for a unit of data at a layer: frame, packet, segment, or bit
  3. C.Protocol Data Unit (PDU) — Ethernet frames with payloads larger than 1500 bytes, up to ~9000, to reduce overhead
  4. D.Protocol Data Unit (PDU) — probing the largest unfragmented packet size along a path using ICMP feedback

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19. What is Encapsulation?

Mid
  1. A.the largest payload size in bytes a Layer 2 frame can carry, typically 1500 for Ethernet
  2. B.the process of wrapping data with protocol headers as it moves down the OSI stack
  3. C.using port numbers to deliver incoming segments to the correct application
  4. D.the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio

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20. Which term means: "the process of wrapping data with protocol headers as it moves down the OSI stack"?

Mid
  1. A.Encapsulation
  2. B.OSI Layer 3 (Network)
  3. C.Jumbo frames
  4. D.OSI Layer 1 (Physical)

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21. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Encapsulation — the layer that transmits raw bits over a medium such as copper, fiber, or radio
  2. B.Encapsulation — the process of wrapping data with protocol headers as it moves down the OSI stack
  3. C.Encapsulation — the bytes added by each layer's header that reduce effective payload throughput
  4. D.Encapsulation — Link, Internet, Transport, and Application layers mapping loosely onto the OSI model

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22. What is De-encapsulation?

Mid
  1. A.the layer that handles logical addressing and routing of packets between networks
  2. B.the largest payload size in bytes a Layer 2 frame can carry, typically 1500 for Ethernet
  3. C.the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)
  4. D.stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

23. Which term means: "stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host"?

Mid
  1. A.OSI Layer 5 (Session)
  2. B.Segment
  3. C.De-encapsulation
  4. D.OSI Layer 4 (Transport)

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24. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.De-encapsulation — stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host
  2. B.De-encapsulation — the largest payload size in bytes a Layer 2 frame can carry, typically 1500 for Ethernet
  3. C.De-encapsulation — the bytes added by each layer's header that reduce effective payload throughput
  4. D.De-encapsulation — the layer where applications and protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP operate

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

25. What is Frame?

Mid
  1. A.the layer that establishes, manages, and terminates sessions between applications
  2. B.the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)
  3. C.the Layer 2 PDU containing source/destination MAC addresses and a payload
  4. D.stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

26. Which term means: "the Layer 2 PDU containing source/destination MAC addresses and a payload"?

Mid
  1. A.Frame
  2. B.Header overhead
  3. C.Protocol Data Unit (PDU)
  4. D.Packet

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

27. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Frame — the layer that provides end-to-end delivery, segmentation, and flow control (TCP/UDP)
  2. B.Frame — the layer handling data translation, encryption, and compression for the application
  3. C.Frame — the layer that handles logical addressing and routing of packets between networks
  4. D.Frame — the Layer 2 PDU containing source/destination MAC addresses and a payload

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

28. What is Packet?

Mid
  1. A.the layer where applications and protocols like HTTP, DNS, and SMTP operate
  2. B.the layer handling data translation, encryption, and compression for the application
  3. C.the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses
  4. D.the Layer 2 PDU containing source/destination MAC addresses and a payload

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

29. Which term means: "the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses"?

Mid
  1. A.Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)
  2. B.Jumbo frames
  3. C.TCP/IP four-layer model
  4. D.Packet

Answer + AI explanation with Pro

30. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Packet — the Layer 3 PDU containing source/destination IP addresses
  2. B.Packet — stripping headers off as data moves up the stack at the receiving host
  3. C.Packet — the largest payload size in bytes a Layer 2 frame can carry, typically 1500 for Ethernet
  4. D.Packet — the layer that frames data and handles MAC addressing and link-local delivery

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