What layer of the OSI model is responsible for data formatting and delivery to the application layer?

The Presentation Layer of the OSI model is responsible for data formatting and providing services to ensure that data is presented in a usable format to the application layer. This layer acts as a translator between the data that the application understands and the data that the network can send over. It is responsible for tasks such as data encoding, encryption, compression, and ensuring that the data is structured in a way that the application can work with it effectively.

By managing the syntax and semantics of the information exchanged, the Presentation Layer ensures that the applications at either end of a communication can interpret the data correctly, regardless of format discrepancies that may arise from different systems or software. This is crucial for effective communication and data interchange between systems that may be using different formats or protocols.

The roles of the other layers focus on different aspects of networking; for example, the Network Layer is tasked with routing data between devices, the Data Link Layer deals with node-to-node data transfer and error detection/correction, and the Session Layer is concerned with establishing, maintaining, and terminating sessions between applications. Each layer has its distinct responsibilities that contribute to the overall function of the OSI model, but the Presentation Layer's role in formatting data specifically makes it the correct answer in this context.