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Tech Differences

Know the Technical Differences

Difference Between Router and Switch

Router-Vs-SwitchRouter and switch both are the connecting devices in networking. A router is used to choose the smallest path for a packet to reach its destination. A switch stores the arrived packet, process it to determine its destination address and forwards the packet to a specific destination.

The basic difference between a router and a switch is that a router connects different networks together whereas, a switch connect multiple devices together to create a network. Let us study some other differences between router and switch with the help of comparison chart shown below.

Content: Router Vs Switches

  1. Comparison Chart
  2. Definition
  3. Key Differences
  4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for ComparisonRouterSwitch
PurposeRouter connects different networks together.Switches create a network by connecting several devices together.
LayerRouter works on the physical layer; data link layer and network layer.The switch operates on data link layer and network layer.
WorkRouter determines the best path that packet should follow to reach the destination computer.A switch receives process and forwards the packet to intended computers.
TypeAdaptive routing and Nonadaptive routing.Circuit Switching, Packet Switching, Message Switching.

Definition of Router

Router is a device used for internetworking. A router is used to connect independent LANs together, independent WANs together, or independent LANs and WANs together. A router has a physical and a logical address for each of its interfaces. When a packet arrives at a router’s interface, it has the physical address of router’s interface in its destination field. The router then accepts the packet and before forwarding it changes the physical address in the packet’s source and destination address field.

The main purpose of a router is to select the best (shortest) possible path for the packet during transmission. A router operates at the physical layer; data link layer and network layer of an OSI model.

Router has two routing techniques, Non-adaptive routing and Adaptive routing. In Nonadaptive routing, once a path has been selected, the router send all the packets for that destination through that selected path only. In adaptive routing, each time a router chooses a new path for each packet.

There are some routing algorithms like Distance Vector routing, Link State routing, Dijkstra algorithm, etc. that computes the shortest and cheapest path for transmission of a packet.

Definition of Switch

A switch is also a networking device and connects multiple devices. A switch connects the multiple devices to create a Local Area Network. As a switch connects the multiple devices together to form a LAN, so it is the responsibility of switch to deliver the arrived packet to the specific device.  A switch receives a packet; then it checks the destination address of a packet and forwards it to the outgoing link for that destination if the link is free.

Switches are classified as a Store-and-Forward Switch and a Cut-Through Switch. When a frame arrives at Store-and-Forward switch, it stores the frame in a buffer till all the frame in a packet has arrived. On the other hand, the Cut-Through switch forwards the packet as soon as the destination address of the packet is revealed.

Like hub, a switch never broadcast the packet to all the connected devices instead it forwards the packet to the specific device only. The switch operates at the data link layer and network layer.

Key Differences Between Router and Switch

  1. A router connects different networks like two LANs, two WAN’s or LAN and WAN. on the other hand, a switch connect multiple devices together to create a network.
  2. Router operates on a Physical layer, a data link layer as well as network layer whereas, a switch operates only on data link layer and network layer.
  3. The main purpose of the router is to determine the smallest and best path for a packet to reach the destination. On the other hand, a switch receives a packet, process it to determines its destination address and forwards the packet to address the revealed destination address.
  4. Routing is further classified as non-adaptive routing and adaptive routing. On the other hand, a switching is classified as a circuit switch, packet switching and message switching.

Conclusion

Both the devices, routers and switches are compulsorily used while internetworking

Related Differences:

  1. Difference Between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching
  2. Difference Between Circuit switching and Message switching
  3. Difference Between Static and Dynamic Routing
  4. Difference Between Bridge and Switch
  5. Difference Between Hub and Switch

Comments

  1. Babbal says

    August 27, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    The differences between the router ad the switches are clearly explained in the post.

    Reply
  2. Mary says

    December 5, 2018 at 6:50 am

    This post is very perfect and useful. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  3. Ishan says

    June 20, 2019 at 10:37 am

    Thanks for providing this information to me. After reading this article I know the difference between router and switch.

    Reply
  4. Navneet Kukreja says

    September 10, 2019 at 4:11 am

    Need to know the difference between Router and Multilayer or Layer 3 Switch which performs similar function as the Router.
    Router and Layer2 Switch are distinct, therefore, there is no need to compare these two.

    Reply
  5. Dylan says

    October 18, 2019 at 1:25 am

    Great

    Reply
  6. Jamir says

    April 22, 2020 at 12:02 pm

    This is what I am looking for. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Fish says

    October 11, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    I appreciate your posts its best website I like it
    Keep it up.

    Reply
  8. John Cline says

    December 11, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Very informative. Would have liked to have seen a comparison between switching and peer-to-peer connections

    Reply
  9. Manolis says

    October 21, 2021 at 5:26 am

    Good and comprehensive analysis. I think there is a small typo error though, you mention “Like hub, …” instead of “Unlike hub, …”.

    Reply
  10. Mmm says

    April 28, 2022 at 8:31 pm

    This is really awesome! So helpful and easy to understand.
    Good job!!!
    Thanks!

    Reply

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