Which one of the following is a set of rules, procedures, and formats, defined in seven levels, or layers?

The OSI Reference Model is a conceptual framework used to understand and implement networking protocols in seven layers, which helps to standardize communication functions. Each layer of the model serves a specific purpose, allowing different systems to communicate over a network by defining how data is transmitted and received. These layers are Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application, each with distinct roles and protocols associated with them. This layered structure facilitates interoperability between various networking devices and technologies, which is essential for robust and flexible network architecture.

In contrast, the other options, although important networking protocols, do not represent a layered framework like the OSI model. For instance, Transmission Control Protocol is focused on establishing a connection for data transfer within the Transport layer. Internet Protocol relates to the Network layer, dealing with addressing and routing of packets. Hypertext Transfer Protocol, on the other hand, operates at the Application layer to facilitate web communication. While each of these protocols can be essential for networking, they do not embody the complete and layered approach defined by the OSI Reference Model.