Layer 7
In plain terms
The application layer of the network model.
Going deeper
Layer 7 is where applications and protocols like HTTP operate, dealing with the actual content and meaning of communication. It's the top of the OSI model.
Under the hood
Layer-7 load balancers and firewalls can route and filter by application content (URLs, headers).
Examples
HTTP, application firewalls, L7 load balancing, content routing, APIs.
Think of it like...
Like the conversation's actual words and meaning, not the wires carrying them.