What distinguishes switches from bridges in networking?

Switches are crucial components in networking, primarily functioning at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. What distinguishes switches from bridges is their capability to connect multiple devices simultaneously within a network. A switch manages data traffic by using MAC addresses to forward data only to the intended recipient device, effectively creating a small, isolated network segment for each pair of communicating devices.

In contrast, a bridge typically connects two network segments (or devices) and does not have the sophisticated management capabilities that switches possess. While both bridges and switches help in reducing network collisions and improving overall network performance, switches can handle a larger volume of data traffic due to their ability to simultaneously communicate with multiple devices, making them more efficient for modern networking needs.

Therefore, the key element of switches that sets them apart from bridges is their capacity to connect more than two bus networks at the same time, enabling a more complex and efficient data transmission environment.