The Difference Between a Hub, Switch, & Router

Hubs, switches, and routers are all common types of devices to help connect a network. Because they are often integrated into a single device, it can be challenging to understand the distinction between these items. In some cases, the terms may even be used interchangeably, though this is incorrect. The functions and uses of these devices are all very different from one another. Below, we provide a simple guide on the difference between a hub, switch, and router to help you better understand their dissimilarity.

What is a Hub?

A hub is a type of device that’s commonly used as a connection point for various devices in a Local Area Network (LAN) on a computer network. It works by receiving packets that arrive at one of its multiple ports, copying the packets, and sending them to its other ports so that all LAN segments can see the data.

When a single port in the hub responds, all other ports will also receive the response. The hub does not have any capability to distinguish which port it should send a data packet to. As such, all connected devices will receive the response and must determine whether they should accept it or not.

In comparison to routers and switches, a hub is the least complex and least expensive device. While they have often been used as a quick and easy way to connect a small network, they are becoming increasingly replaced by switches.

What is a Switch?

A networking switch is a type of hardware that uses packet switching to receive and forward data to its intended destination within a network or multiple networks. Essentially, a switch is a more efficient, more intelligent version of a hub.

Perhaps the biggest difference between a hub and a switch is the way that it delivers data packets. Rather than blindly passing along data to all devices in a network, an industrial switch records the addresses of the connected devices. In doing so, it learns which devices are connected to which ports. Then, when a port receives a data packet, the switch reads its destination address and sends it directly to the intended networking device in the network instead of every single port. As a result, a switch can greatly improve the speed of networks that receive a lot of traffic. Now, let’s differentiate a switch vs router.

What is a Router?

A router is the most intelligent and complex of the three network connection devices listed in this article. Rather than just forwarding data packets to other devices in a single network, routers are designed to forward data packets between two or more networks, as well as direct traffic between them. They are typically located at gateways and can be programmed to understand, direct, and manipulate network traffic. Now, we should be clear on the difference of a router vs switch.

Many modern routers are designed to integrate the capabilities of a switch and hub router all in a single device. Depending on the application, routers range in size from small broadband devices to large industrial wireless routers. If you still are curious on a router vs switch vs hub, please reach out to our technical team at sales@antaira.com or call us at (714) 671-9000.