Network switch

A switch in a local area network is a device which connects all the different devices together, and allows them to communicate with each other.

A device sends packets of data via the central switch or hub, and the switch will forward the packets to only the intended recipient.

How it works

A device sends a frame (basically a packet) over the wire to the switch (e.g. via ethernet).
The switch then looks at the frame, and sees which device it’s meant to be sent to. It does that by looking at the mac address of the frame, which is a unique identifier (basically name) for each device.
The switch then sends the frame to the correct device, so that it can be received and read / processed by that device.

Question	Answer
Network switch	In a local area network, a device that connects all different devices together and allows them to communicate with each other.
What does a switch do when it receives a frame?	The switch looks at the frame, sees which device it is meant for by checking the MAC address, and forwards the frame only to the intended recipient.
What is a frame in the context of a switch?	A packet sent over the wire (e.g. via Ethernet) to the switch.
How does a switch determine the intended recipient of a frame?	It looks at the MAC address of the frame, which is a unique identifier for each device.
What is a “dumb” switch also known as?	A hub.