Packet switching is a communication technology that divides data into smaller units known as packets and transfers them over a network. Each packet contains the source and destination addresses, as well as additional routing information. Packets may take alternate paths to their destination and be broadcast out of order or delayed owing to network congestion.
Advantages of Packet Switching:
- Packet switching is more reliable than circuit switching.
- Packet switching has increased efficiency and reduced bandwidth network waste.
- Packet switching operates at an ideal speed with low latency factors.
- Packet switching enhanced the circuit's fault tolerance.
- Packet switching is more adaptable and can handle a wider range of data speeds and packet sizes than circuit switching.
- Packet switching is cheaper than circuit switching since resources are shared by multiple users.
- Packet switching is efficient because it distributes bandwidth among several users and allocates resources only when data has to be transferred.
- Packet switching networks are often more fault tolerant because data can use alternate pathways if one path becomes unavailable, ensuring continuous communication even in the event of a network breakdown.
Packet switching offer greater flexibility, efficiency and resilience compared to circuit switching, making it more suitable for modern, data intensive networks.