Which device operates at the Network Layer of the OSI model?

The device that operates at the Network Layer of the OSI model is the router. This layer is responsible for determining the best path for data to travel across a network, making routing decisions based on IP addresses. Routers play a crucial role in connecting different networks and managing traffic between them, ensuring that data packets are forwarded efficiently to their destination.

Routers analyze the information contained in the packet headers, which includes the destination IP address, and use routing tables to ascertain how to forward packets accurately. They can perform network address translation, handle DHCP requests, and provide inter-network communication, all of which are vital functions expected at the Network Layer.

In contrast, devices like hubs and repeaters operate at the Physical Layer, simply transmitting signals without any understanding of the data content. Switches work primarily at the Data Link Layer, managing traffic within a single network segment by using MAC addresses to forward frames. Therefore, the role of routing and traffic management at an inter-network level specifically identifies routers as integral to operations at the Network Layer.