Switch

nounStandard termTelecom & IT

A network device that connects devices and forwards data packets to their exact destination.

A hardware device that interconnects devices on a computer network or telephone system. In data networking, a switch operates at Layer 2 or Layer 3, using MAC addresses to forward data frames only to the specific port where the destination device is connected. In telephony, it refers to the central office equipment that physically or logically routes calls between subscribers.

Heard on the job

The access switch on the third floor dropped offline, so those users have no network connection.