What is the difference between routing and switching?

• A. Switching forwards frames within a local network (Layer 2) using MAC addresses.
• B. Routing forwards frames within a local network (Layer 2) using MAC addresses.
• C. Switching forwards packets between networks (Layer 3) using IP addresses.
• D. Routing forwards packets within a local network (Layer 2) using IP addresses.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is understanding where switching and routing operate and what addressing they use. A switch works at the data link layer inside a single local network. It forwards frames based on MAC addresses, learning which device is on which port and sending the frame only to the port that leads to the destination. This keeps all traffic within the same broadcast domain without needing to look at IP addresses.

In contrast, routing moves data between different networks. Routers operate at the network layer and use IP addresses to determine the best path and next hop toward the destination, which is why they connect multiple networks and enable inter-network communication.

So the statement that switching forwards frames within a local network (Layer 2) using MAC addresses captures the core distinction. The other options mix up frames versus packets, or Layer 2 versus Layer 3, or local versus inter-network forwarding, which is why they don’t fit.