How does a Hub differ from a Switch?

Hub and Switch are network devices used to connect multiple computers in a local network, but they operate differently:

• Hub is a simple signal repeater. It receives an incoming data packet and retransmits it to all ports except the one it came from. This leads to a high number of collisions and reduced network performance.

• Switch is a more intelligent device. It analyzes device MAC addresses and directs packets only to the necessary port, reducing collisions and increasing data transfer efficiency.

Example:

• In a network with 5 computers, a hub will send data from one computer to all others immediately.
• A switch will send data only to the computer for which it is intended.