At this layer, we learn about packets, IP addresses, and routing tables. How does your packet get from your laptop in New York to Google's server in California? We learn about hops, next-hop routing, and the magic of the IP address.
Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by Kurose and Ross is widely considered a premier, Internet-centric textbook that employs an accessible, top-down teaching method focusing on applications first. The recently updated 9th edition provides modern coverage of Wi-Fi 6, 5G, and HTTP/3 while maintaining popular interactive resources like Wireshark Labs. For a detailed overview of the book's features and updates, see the information on Amazon . computer networking top-down approach