Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

When HTTP is used to send REST requests, it is a protocol of which layer?

1. Application

2. Presentation

3. Session

4. Transport

The correct answer is: Session

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a protocol that operates at the Application layer of the OSI model. It is designed for transmitting hypertext via the web, allowing for the communication between clients (such as web browsers) and servers. When REST (Representational State Transfer) applications communicate, they often do so over HTTP, leveraging its methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to perform CRUD operations on resources. The Application layer is responsible for providing end-user services and interfaces with lower layers. While the Session and Transport layers play roles in managing sessions and ensuring reliable transmission, respectively, HTTP specifically facilitates the end-to-end communication necessary for web applications and services. Understanding where HTTP fits in the OSI model highlights its importance in enabling web-based applications to function, which is crucial knowledge for anyone involved in cybersecurity or networking.