Which layer provides session management for application processes?

The Session Layer is specifically designed to manage sessions in application processes. It is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and terminating connections between applications. This includes handling the initiation and termination of communication sessions, as well as ensuring that the sessions are properly synchronized and that data transfer is handled correctly throughout the lifespan of those sessions.

In the context of network architecture, the Session Layer becomes crucial for applications that require a continual exchange of information or sessions that span multiple requests. By managing the control of sessions, it allows applications to efficiently communicate without needing to reinstate a connection for every single piece of data they share.

The other layers, such as the Transport Layer, Network Layer, and Data Link Layer, serve different purposes. The Transport Layer focuses on end-to-end communication and reliability, ensuring that data is transferred accurately and in the correct sequence. The Network Layer is involved in routing and forwarding packets across the network, managing addressing and the delivery of messages. The Data Link Layer handles the physical transmission of data over a particular link in a network, dealing with protocols and addressing within the local network context. Thus, while they each play important roles in networking and data communication, they do not manage the sessions between applications like the Session Layer does.