Which device operates at the Data Link layer to switch frames between devices on the same network?

Which device operates at the Data Link layer to switch frames between devices on the same network?

• A. Router
• B. Switch
• C. Bridge
• D. Gateway

Answer: (B)

The Data Link layer is responsible for delivering frames between devices on the same local network, using MAC addresses to forward each frame to the correct destination port. A switch is designed to perform that frame-by-frame switching inside a LAN, building a MAC address table and sending each frame only to the port where the destination device is reachable. This makes it the device that operates at the Data Link layer to switch frames between devices on the same network. Bridges also operate at this layer and can connect segments, but switches are the standard, higher-performance devices used for LAN-wide frame switching. Routers work at the Network layer to forward packets between different networks, not to switch frames within a single LAN. Gateways connect different network architectures and often involve translation or interworking beyond simple frame switching.

The Data Link layer is responsible for delivering frames between devices on the same local network, using MAC addresses to forward each frame to the correct destination port. A switch is designed to perform that frame-by-frame switching inside a LAN, building a MAC address table and sending each frame only to the port where the destination device is reachable. This makes it the device that operates at the Data Link layer to switch frames between devices on the same network.

Bridges also operate at this layer and can connect segments, but switches are the standard, higher-performance devices used for LAN-wide frame switching. Routers work at the Network layer to forward packets between different networks, not to switch frames within a single LAN. Gateways connect different network architectures and often involve translation or interworking beyond simple frame switching.