How to remember the OSI model layers in order

The seven layers of the OSI model, from layer 1 to layer 7, are physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation and application. Layer 1 is at the bottom, so put it on your feet and go up your body.

Try it: all seven on your body

Seven words, one at a time, each on a part of your body: feet, knees, thighs, hips, stomach, chest, shoulders. For each, type what the word does to that part, in a few words; the first two come with a scene to start you off. Up to 15 seconds a word. Then look away for 15 seconds, and walk up your body from your feet to get them back.

Where does the order slip?

Going up your body gives you the layer numbers for free: feet are 1, the shoulders are 7. The usual slip is near the top, where session comes before presentation. Sentences made from first letters give you P, D, N, T, S, P, A, and the two Ps are easy to swap.

How do you keep it?

Walk up your body again tomorrow and a few days later, and say each item before you look. Recalling something before you look at it again is one of the best-supported ways to learn. If an item doesn’t come back, give it a new scene on the same part of your body.

In a 2022 study, ten parts of the body, typed from feet to head, worked as well as a classical memory palace for recalling a list in order. There’s more in how to memorize a list in order and the body method.

Keep this list with Without Notes

After the free first lesson, paste this list into Without Notes. It puts the items on your places in order, you write each scene, and it checks you at 1, 7 and 30 days, unaided.