How Peer Layers Communicate

How Peer Layers Communicate

To communicate with its peer layer in another computer, each protocol layer adds its own information to the message being sent. This information takes the form of a header added to the beginning of the message (see Figure 2.3).

Headers are added as the message is prepared for transmission, and headers are removed (stripped) by the receiving computer after the information in the header has been utilized.

The Physical layer does not append a header because this layer deals with sending and receiving information on the individual bit level. The bits are assembled into longer message units in the Data Link layer.