The position of Presentation Layer in seven layered Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) model is just below the Application Layer. When
the presentation layer receives data from the application layer, to be
sent over the network, it makes sure that the data is in the proper
format. If it is not, the presentation layer converts the data to the
proper format. On the other side of communication, when the presentation
layer receives network data from the session layer, it makes sure that
the data is in the proper format and once again converts it if it is
not.
Formatting functions at the presentation layer may
include compression, encryption, and ensuring that the character code
set (ASCII, Unicode, EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange
Code, which is used in IBM servers) etc) can be interpreted on the other
side.
For example, if we select to compress the data
from a network application that we are using, the Application Layer will
pass that request to the Presentation Layer, but it will be the
Presentation Layer that does the compression.
Layer 7. Application Layer
