Layer 1: Physical

The Physical Layer is responsible for the physical connection between devices. It defines the physical and electrical specifications for devices.

Key Points
  • Deals with bit-level transmission
  • Defines cable types and connectors
  • Specifies voltage levels and timing of electrical pulses
  • Examples: Ethernet cables, fiber optic cables, wireless radio frequencies
  • Manages physical network topologies
  • Handles bit synchronization and transmission rates