Dictionary of Computers - packet switching

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Method of transmitting data between computers connected in a network. Packet switched networks do not provide a dedicated connection between two locations, as with a circuit switched network. Packet switched networks make more effective use of bandwidth than circuit switched networks, and are more resilient to breaks in network links because there are always multiple routes from source to destination.

It is possible that a large message be broken down into many small packets, each equipped with a sequence number to ensure it can be reassembled properly if some packets take a different route through the network of switches and arrive out of order.

The resilience of packet switched networks was important to the US Department of Defense, who funded early packet switching research. It was particularly concerned that the network would continue to work if parts of it were destroyed during a nuclear attack. These were the beginnings of the formation of the Internet.

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