What is the primary difference between a hub and a switch?

The primary difference between a hub and a switch lies in how they manage data transmission in a network. A hub is a basic networking device that operates on the principle of broadcasting. When a hub receives data from one device, it sends that data to all devices connected to it. This means that every device on a hub receives all the data packets, regardless of whether they are the intended recipient. This can lead to unnecessary network traffic and collisions since multiple devices may try to communicate simultaneously.

In contrast, a switch is a more sophisticated device that operates at Layer 2 (Data Link layer) of the OSI model. When a switch receives data, it intelligently examines the header information to determine the specific destination of that data packet. It then forwards the data only to the intended recipient’s port, reducing unnecessary traffic and improving overall network efficiency. This targeted approach helps to maintain better bandwidth utilization and minimizes collisions, making switches more effective for larger and more complex network environments.

Other options presented are not accurate representations of the key differences between hubs and switches. For instance, both devices actually operate at Layer 2, which makes the Layer 3 assertion incorrect. Additionally, while network capacity can vary, it isn't inherently true that hubs support more devices than switches. In