At which layer do basic switches operate?

Basic switches operate at the Data Link Layer of the OSI model. This layer is responsible for node-to-node data transfer and handles error correction from the physical layer. Switches use MAC addresses to forward data to the correct destination within a local area network (LAN). They do not process data based on network-layer protocols like IP (which operate on the Network Layer) or manage sessions like the Transport Layer does. Instead, by making forwarding decisions based on MAC addresses, switches can efficiently manage traffic within the same network, thus functioning effectively at the Data Link Layer.