It maintains a unified addressing scheme that assigns each node in the network a unique logical (symbolic) address. Each Network Layer address is not unique everywhere in the world, but only within a single network. If a packet's source and destination are in different networks, the Network Layer may have to resolve different addressing conventions and duplicated node addresses used in different types and versions of networks.

The Network Layer handles packets to and from node types that may use different Data Link Layer protocols.

In circuit-switched networks, it establishes and maintains the virtual circuit.

In connectionless packet networks, the Network Layer of an intermediate node independently forwards packets from one neighbor to the next. This process is repeated until the packet reaches its final destination.

In connection-oriented packet networks, a Network Layer process of an intermediate node routes a packet to the next node in the established connection.