Which of the following describes the role of the Transport Layer in the TCP/IP stack?

The role of the Transport Layer in the TCP/IP stack is primarily concerned with ensuring that data is delivered reliably and in the correct order. This is achieved through mechanisms such as acknowledgment of received packets and sequencing them appropriately. When data is transmitted over a network, the Transport Layer breaks it down into manageable segments for transmission and ensures that these segments arrive at their destination intact and in the correct sequence. If packets are lost or arrive out of order, the Transport Layer has protocols in place to request retransmission and reorder packets as necessary.

This robust handling of data integrity and order is crucial for applications where reliable communication is essential, such as file transfers and web browsing. While other layers of the TCP/IP model perform different functions—like the Application Layer providing user interfaces or the Internet Layer handling the routing of data packets—the Transport Layer's focus on acknowledgment and sequencing is what distinguishes its responsibilities within the stack.