What function does the transport layer perform in networking?

The transport layer, a key component of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, plays a crucial role in the management of data flow between devices over a network. One of its fundamental functions is to support flow control and sequencing of data packets. Flow control ensures that a sender does not overwhelm a receiver with data it cannot process in a timely manner, while sequencing guarantees that data packets are delivered in the order they were sent, which is essential for maintaining data integrity and coherence during transmission.

This layer utilizes protocols like TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to establish a reliable and orderly exchange of data. Fields within the transport layer headers contain information needed to manage these processes, such as sequence numbers for reordering packets and flags for establishing segments of data, which are crucial for effective communications.

In contrast, the other functions listed in the options pertain to different layers of networking. Filtering a network using hardware addresses relates to the data link layer, which handles physical addressing and access control to the network medium. Casting data packets to multiple network segments refers to broadcasting, which typically occurs at the network layer or data link layer. Finally, segmenting a network into collision domains is a function associated with the data link layer and the configuration of network devices like switches,