What is the primary purpose of a network switch?

The primary purpose of a network switch is to connect devices within the same network and direct data traffic. Switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and are designed to manage communication between devices on the same local area network (LAN). When a device sends data, the switch receives it and, using MAC addresses, determines the destination device and forwards the data only to that specific device rather than broadcasting it to all devices on the network. This targeted data transmission reduces unnecessary traffic and improves overall network efficiency and performance.

In contrast, filtering incoming traffic is more specific to routers or firewalls, which manage traffic entering or leaving a network. Combining multiple networks into one typically involves routers, which connect different networks and route traffic between them. Encrypting data for secure transmission is a function of security protocols rather than a switch's primary role, which is focused on connectivity and traffic management within a single network. Understanding these distinctions emphasizes the main function of switches in networking.