Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for session management?

The layer of the OSI model responsible for session management is indeed Layer 5, known as the Session Layer. This layer plays a crucial role in establishing, maintaining, and terminating communication sessions between applications on different networked devices. It is responsible for managing the exchange of information by setting up sessions, which are essentially connections that allow for synchronized communication.

The Session Layer also handles the control of connections through mechanisms such as checkpoints and recovery, enabling the system to re-establish a session if a disruption occurs. This enhances the robustness and reliability of data transmission across the network.

The other layers serve different functions: the Network Layer (Layer 3) is focused on routing data packets, the Transport Layer (Layer 4) is responsible for end-to-end communication and error handling, and the Application Layer (Layer 7) is where user interface and network services exist. Each layer plays a vital role in the OSI model, but it is the Session Layer that specifically manages sessions crucial for coordinated communication.