Question

What is the difference between switching and routing?

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

Switching and routing are both important networking functions, but they serve different purposes.

Switching:
- Switching involves forwarding data packets from one device to another within a local network (LAN).
- Switches operate at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model.
- Switches use MAC addresses to determine where to send data packets within a network.
- Switching is used to create a direct connection between devices within the same network, allowing for faster and more efficient data transfer.

Routing:
- Routing involves forwarding data packets between different networks (LANs or WANs).
- Routers operate at Layer 3 (Network Layer) of the OSI model.
- Routers use IP addresses to determine the best path for data packets to travel from the source to the destination across multiple networks.
- Routing is used to connect multiple networks together and enable communication between devices on different networks.

In summary, switching is used for local data forwarding within a network, while routing is used for determining the best path for data packets to travel between different networks.