The data link layer is layer 2 of the seven-layer OSI model

OSI model

The Open Systems Interconnection model is a product of the Open Systems Interconnection effort at the International Organization for Standardization. It is a prescription of characterizing and standardizing the functions of a communications system in terms of abstraction layers. Similar...

  of computer network

Computer network

A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....

ing. It corresponds to, or is part of the link layer

Link Layer

In computer networking, the link layer is the lowest layer in the Internet Protocol Suite , the networking architecture of the Internet . It is the group of methods or protocols that only operate on a host's link...

 of the TCP/IP reference model.

The data link layer is the protocol layer that transfers data between adjacent network nodes in a wide area network

Wide area network

A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...

 or between nodes on the same local area network

Local area network

A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...

 segment

Network segment

A network segment is a portion of a computer network. The nature and extent of a segment depends on the nature of the network and the device or devices used to interconnect end stations.-Ethernet:...

. The data link layer provides the functional and procedural means to transfer data between network entities and might provide the means to detect and possibly correct errors that may occur in the physical layer

Physical layer

The physical layer or layer 1 is the first and lowest layer in the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. The implementation of this layer is often termed PHY....

.