Which device forwards frames only to the destination device and helps reduce unnecessary traffic?

Which device forwards frames only to the destination device and helps reduce unnecessary traffic?

• A. Hub
• B. Router
• C. Switch
• D. Bridge

Answer: (C)

Frames are forwarded at the data-link layer using MAC addresses. A switch builds a MAC address table by listening to frames on each port, learning which device (MAC) is reachable through which port. When a frame destined for a known MAC arrives, the switch sends it only out the specific port that leads to that device, instead of broadcasting to all ports. This targeted forwarding minimizes unnecessary traffic and helps prevent unnecessary load on other devices, improving overall network efficiency. A hub simply repeats every incoming frame to all ports, so everyone sees all traffic and collisions are common. A bridge can filter frames between two segments, but a switch extends this concept to many ports with faster learning and scalability. A router operates at a higher layer (IP) and routes packets between networks, not individual frames within a LAN.

Frames are forwarded at the data-link layer using MAC addresses. A switch builds a MAC address table by listening to frames on each port, learning which device (MAC) is reachable through which port. When a frame destined for a known MAC arrives, the switch sends it only out the specific port that leads to that device, instead of broadcasting to all ports. This targeted forwarding minimizes unnecessary traffic and helps prevent unnecessary load on other devices, improving overall network efficiency.

A hub simply repeats every incoming frame to all ports, so everyone sees all traffic and collisions are common. A bridge can filter frames between two segments, but a switch extends this concept to many ports with faster learning and scalability. A router operates at a higher layer (IP) and routes packets between networks, not individual frames within a LAN.