Network Switch

A network switch is a device that connects computers, printers, access points and other devices within a local area network (LAN) using Ethernet cables. It learns the MAC address of the device on each port and sends each piece of data only to the port of the device it is meant for.

A hub, the older device it replaced, sends every piece of data to every port, which wastes bandwidth and causes collisions. A switch connects devices within one network, while a router connects different networks, such as your home network to the internet. Managed switches add features such as VLANs and traffic monitoring.