A switch is a networking device that operates at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and is primarily responsible for handling data traffic within a network. Here's how a switch handles data traffic:

MAC Address Learning: When a switch receives a frame (data packet) from a device, it examines the source MAC address of the frame. It then associates this MAC address with the port from which the frame was received, updating its MAC address table.

MAC Address Table: The switch maintains a MAC address table that maps MAC addresses to specific switch ports. This table helps the switch determine the destination port for forwarding frames.

Frame Forwarding: When the switch receives a frame with a destination MAC address, it looks up the MAC address in its MAC address table. If the destination MAC address is already known and associated with a specific port, the switch forwards the frame only to that port. This is known as unicast forwarding.
Unknown MAC Addresses: If the destination MAC address is unknown to the switch (not in its MAC address table), the switch uses a flooding technique. It sends the frame out to all other ports (except the port from which the frame was received) in the same VLAN, allowing the destination device to respond and update its MAC address.

VLAN Tagging: Switches support Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), which allow for logical network segmentation. In VLAN-enabled networks, switches add a VLAN tag to the frame, indicating the VLAN membership of the packet. This allows switches to separate and forward traffic based on VLANs.

Broadcast and Multicast: Switches forward broadcast frames (sent to all devices within a network) and multicast frames (sent to a specific group of devices) to all ports within the same VLAN.

Loop Avoidance: Switches implement loop avoidance mechanisms, such as the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), to prevent network loops that can cause broadcast storms and network congestion.

A switch is a networking device that operates at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and is primarily responsible for handling data traffic within a network. Here's how a switch handles data traffic:

MAC Address Learning: When a switch receives a frame (data packet) from a device, it examines the source MAC address of the frame. It then associates this MAC address with the port from which the frame was received, updating its MAC address table.

MAC Address Table: The switch maintains a MAC address table that maps MAC addresses to specific switch ports. This table helps the switch determine the destination port for forwarding frames.

Frame Forwarding: When the switch receives a frame with a destination MAC address, it looks up the MAC address in its MAC address table. If the destination MAC address is already known and associated with a specific port, the switch forwards the frame only to that port. This is known as unicast forwarding.
Unknown MAC Addresses: If the destination MAC address is unknown to the switch (not in its MAC address table), the switch uses a flooding technique. It sends the frame out to all other ports (except the port from which the frame was received) in the same VLAN, allowing the destination device to respond and update its MAC address.

VLAN Tagging: Switches support Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), which allow for logical network segmentation. In VLAN-enabled networks, switches add a VLAN tag to the frame, indicating the VLAN membership of the packet. This allows switches to separate and forward traffic based on VLANs.

Broadcast and Multicast: Switches forward broadcast frames (sent to all devices within a network) and multicast frames (sent to a specific group of devices) to all ports within the same VLAN.

Loop Avoidance: Switches implement loop avoidance mechanisms, such as the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), to prevent network loops that can cause broadcast storms and network congestion.