Drag rotateScroll zoomRight-drag panClick inspect a component
Enter a message or click a button to begin.
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How do you want to learn the OSI Model?
Pick a mode to begin — you can switch at any time with the Mode button.
RECOMMENDED FOR FIRST TIME
🌱 Beginner Mode
A clean, uncluttered view. You follow the packet and the coloured header blocks without any wall of text getting in the way.
Packet + coloured header blocks
One-line action pill per layer
Live data chip: IPs, ports, MACs
Hover anything to inspect it
No dense text panels above the layers
FOR EXAM & INTERVIEW PREP
🔬 Advanced Mode
Everything in Beginner Mode, plus the full in-depth panel that rises above each layer explaining exactly what happens there.
Everything from Beginner Mode
5–6 technical points per layer
PDU names, MSS, TTL, CRC, ports
Separate sending / receiving detail
Revealed line by line as you watch
💻 Best on a laptop or desktop
This simulation is designed for the best experience on a larger screen. On a mobile device some features may not work as expected.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This OSI layer animation explains the concept accurately, but occasional errors may occur. Please verify with trusted references before using it for study or projects.
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About The OSI Model Simulation
How Data Flows:
Sending Text (e.g., "Hi")
When you send a short text message, it travels down the OSI layers. The Application layer takes your text, Presentation encrypts it, and Session manages the connection. Transport breaks it into small, manageable segments. Network adds routing information (IP addresses), and Data Link adds local hardware addresses (MAC addresses). Finally, the Physical layer converts it all into a signal (like radio waves) to be sent over the network.
Uploading a File
Uploading a file is similar but on a larger scale. The file is broken into many more segments by the Transport layer. Each segment is individually numbered so they can be reassembled correctly at the destination. The process of adding headers at each layer (encapsulation) happens for every single segment, creating a large stream of data packets that are sent to the server.
Downloading a File
Downloading is the reverse process. The server sends file segments down its OSI stack. Your computer receives these signals at the Physical layer and moves them up. Each layer strips off its corresponding header, checks for errors, and passes the data up. The Transport layer is crucial here, as it reassembles all the segments in the correct order to perfectly reconstruct the original file. The Application layer then presents this complete file to you.
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Speed1.00×Click any header block, machine, layer floor or server rack to inspect it
Type text and press Send, or use the other buttons to see how data flows through the OSI model. Each button shows a different network flow — for example, pressing Send displays the whats app text flow, pressing Upload File shows another flow, and pressing Download shows a different flow in the OSI layers animation. You can press only one button at a time to watch the full animation.”.