What layer of the TCP/IP model is primarily concerned with routing packets?

The Network Layer of the TCP/IP model is primarily responsible for routing packets from the source to the destination across different networks. This layer manages the logical addressing (such as IP addresses) and determines the best paths for data to travel through the network, making sure that packets are delivered to the appropriate devices regardless of their physical location. Functions such as packet forwarding, addressing, and routing protocols like RIP, OSPF, and BGP operate at this layer, enabling the necessary inter-network communication.

In contrast, the Application Layer focuses on providing network services directly to the user, featuring protocols like HTTP, FTP, and DNS that the end-user interacts with. The Transport Layer is responsible for end-to-end communication and reliable data transfer by handling error tracking and data segmentation, typically using protocols like TCP and UDP. Lastly, the Data Link Layer ensures that data packets are correctly formatted for transmission over physical media and handles error correction and framing for the packets. Each of these layers has distinct roles, but it is the Network Layer that is essential for the routing aspect of packet transmission within and between networks.