Switch vs Router: What's the Difference?

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The fundamental difference between a switch and a router lies in their functions and the layers at which they operate. A switch operates at the data link layer, transferring packets without altering their content and potentially adjusting the transfer rate on each port. In contrast, a router functions at the network layer, remapping IP address information in packets and assigning IP addresses to devices connected to its internal ports. While switches use circuit identifiers to determine the appropriate port for packet delivery, routers analyze IP addresses to decide the forwarding path for packets.
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What is the basic difference between a switch and a router ? !
 
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A switch transfer packets without changing the content of the packets, and may change the transfe rate on each port. A router will remap the ip address information in the packets between internal ports and it's external port. A router will also assign ip addresses to all the devices connected to it's internal ports.
 
They work on the different layers.
The switch is the device used on data link layer which takes circuit identifier to determies the port that the packets are sent to.
The router is the network layer device which looks at IP address and decide where to forward the packet based on it.
 
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