|  |  | Summary

In this chapter, you learned that when two systems need to communicate, the presentation layer is needed to convert and translate between the two different formats. In addition, you learned that the presentation layer:

- determines how graphic images, sound and movies are presented
- provides encryption of data
- compresses text and converts graphic images into bit streams so they can be transmitted across a network

Now that you have a firm understanding of the functions that occur at the presentation layer, you are ready to look at the processes that occur at the application layer, which are covered in the next chapter.