What is the primary function of the transport layer in the TCP/IP model?

The primary function of the transport layer in the TCP/IP model is to provide reliable or unreliable delivery of data. This layer is responsible for end-to-end communication between devices over a network. It manages how data is segmented, transmitted, and received, ensuring that data packets are delivered in the correct order and without errors when using protocols such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).

TCP accomplishes this reliability through various mechanisms, including error detection, acknowledgments, and retransmission of lost packets, ensuring that the receiving device can reconstruct the original message accurately. On the other hand, UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which is also part of the transport layer, offers a simpler, connectionless service that allows for faster transmission but does not guarantee delivery or order, which reflects the flexibility in choosing reliable or unreliable delivery of data based on application needs.

The other functions associated with the transport layer are not its primary responsibility. Establishing connections is more specific to the session layer or related to the protocols used in the transport layer that may implement this feature, while transmitting data over the physical medium falls under the responsibilities of the data link and physical layers. Finally, mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses pertains to the functions of the network layer and data link layer, specifically involving technologies like AR