{"id":23189,"date":"2026-08-12T16:36:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T08:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/?p=23189"},"modified":"2026-08-12T16:36:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T08:36:05","slug":"what-is-a-network-switch-used-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Network Switch Used For?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If your router only has one or two open Ethernet ports and you&#8217;ve got a growing pile of devices that need a wired connection \u2014 a gaming console, a smart TV, a desktop PC, a printer \u2014 a network switch is almost certainly the simple fix you&#8217;re looking for. It&#8217;s one of the least glamorous pieces of networking gear out there, but it&#8217;s also one of the most useful once you understand what it actually does. This guide covers what a switch is for in plain terms, how it&#8217;s different from a router or a hub, how to actually set one up, which models are worth buying, what they cost, and whether you even need one in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-light-blue\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\/#What_a_Network_Switch_Actually_Does\" title=\"What a Network Switch Actually Does\">What a Network Switch Actually Does<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\/#Switch_vs_Router_vs_Hub_Whats_the_Difference\" title=\"Switch vs. Router vs. Hub: What&#8217;s the Difference\">Switch vs. Router vs. Hub: What&#8217;s the Difference<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\/#How_to_Set_Up_a_Network_Switch_at_Home_or_in_the_Office\" title=\"How to Set Up a Network Switch at Home or in the Office\">How to Set Up a Network Switch at Home or in the Office<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\/#Best_Network_Switches_to_Buy\" title=\"Best Network Switches to Buy\">Best Network Switches to Buy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\/#Network_Switch_Pricing_and_Where_to_Buy\" title=\"Network Switch Pricing and Where to Buy\">Network Switch Pricing and Where to Buy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\/#Do_You_Actually_Need_a_Network_Switch_Beginner_FAQ\" title=\"Do You Actually Need a Network Switch? Beginner FAQ\">Do You Actually Need a Network Switch? Beginner FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_a_Network_Switch_Actually_Does\"><\/span>What a Network Switch Actually Does<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At its core, a network switch is a box that lets multiple wired devices talk to each other and to the rest of your network, without every device needing its own separate cable back to your router. Here&#8217;s how that actually works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>It expands the number of wired connections you have available.<\/strong> Most home routers only have a handful of Ethernet ports \u2014 a switch takes one of those ports and turns it into many, letting you connect far more wired devices than your router alone would allow.<\/li><li><strong>It learns which device is connected to which port.<\/strong> When a device sends data, the switch reads the destination address and remembers which port that device lives on \u2014 this is why it&#8217;s called a &#8220;switch&#8221; rather than a simple splitter: it actively directs traffic rather than just repeating it everywhere.<\/li><li><strong>It sends data only where it needs to go.<\/strong> Because the switch knows which port each device is on, it sends data directly to the intended recipient&#8217;s port instead of blasting it out to every connected device \u2014 this keeps your network faster and reduces unnecessary traffic.<\/li><li><strong>It handles multiple conversations at once.<\/strong> A switch can manage many devices communicating simultaneously without those conversations interfering with each other, which is part of why wired connections through a switch tend to feel more consistent than Wi-Fi under heavy use.<\/li><li><strong>It connects back to your router for internet access.<\/strong> The switch itself doesn&#8217;t provide internet access \u2014 one of its ports connects to your router, and every device plugged into the switch reaches the internet through that single connection back to the router.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The clearest takeaway: think of a switch as a smart traffic director for wired devices \u2014 it doesn&#8217;t replace your router, it extends your router&#8217;s reach by giving many more devices a fast, reliable, wired path onto your network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Switch_vs_Router_vs_Hub_Whats_the_Difference\"><\/span>Switch vs. Router vs. Hub: What&#8217;s the Difference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These three devices get confused constantly, partly because they can look almost identical from the outside. Here&#8217;s how they actually differ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\"><\/th><th scope=\"col\">Switch<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Router<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Hub<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Main job<\/strong><\/td><td>Connects multiple wired devices within the same local network<\/td><td>Connects your entire local network to the internet, and manages traffic between networks<\/td><td>Connects multiple wired devices, but with no intelligence about where data should go<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sends data to<\/strong><\/td><td>Only the specific device it&#8217;s intended for<\/td><td>Directs traffic between your home network and the internet, plus often manages Wi-Fi<\/td><td>Every connected device, all at once, regardless of who it&#8217;s actually for<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Provides internet access?<\/strong><\/td><td>No \u2014 relies on a connection to a router<\/td><td>Yes \u2014 this is its core function<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Typically includes Wi-Fi?<\/strong><\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Usually yes, in home\/small office models<\/td><td>No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Effect on network speed<\/strong><\/td><td>Improves efficiency \u2014 only sends data where needed<\/td><td>Manages overall traffic flow in and out of your network<\/td><td>Can slow things down \u2014 broadcasting everything to every device creates unnecessary congestion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Still commonly sold today?<\/strong><\/td><td>Yes, very common<\/td><td>Yes, essential<\/td><td>Rare \u2014 mostly replaced by switches, which do the same physical job better<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The clearest takeaway: you almost certainly already have a router providing your internet and Wi-Fi \u2014 a switch doesn&#8217;t replace it, it simply gives you more wired ports branching off that same router. Hubs, meanwhile, are largely obsolete; if you&#8217;re buying new hardware today, you&#8217;re choosing a switch, not a hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Set_Up_a_Network_Switch_at_Home_or_in_the_Office\"><\/span>How to Set Up a Network Switch at Home or in the Office<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Physically installing a switch is genuinely one of the simplest pieces of networking hardware to set up. Here&#8217;s the process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Choose a location near your router or wherever you need extra wired ports.<\/strong> Switches don&#8217;t need to sit directly next to your router \u2014 you can place one anywhere convenient and run a single cable back to your router or to another switch already connected to it.<\/li><li><strong>Connect the switch to power.<\/strong> Most home and small-office switches simply plug into a standard power outlet \u2014 no special power requirements for basic models.<\/li><li><strong>Run one Ethernet cable from your router (or an existing switch) to any port on the new switch.<\/strong> This single &#8220;uplink&#8221; cable is what gives every device plugged into the switch access to your network and the internet \u2014 it doesn&#8217;t matter which specific port on the switch you use for this.<\/li><li><strong>Plug your devices into the remaining open ports.<\/strong> Desktop computers, game consoles, smart TVs, printers \u2014 anything with an Ethernet port can now connect directly to the switch using a standard Ethernet cable.<\/li><li><strong>Check the port lights.<\/strong> Most switches have small indicator lights next to each port that turn on or blink when a device is properly connected and communicating \u2014 if a light isn&#8217;t on, check the cable connection at both ends.<\/li><li><strong>That&#8217;s it for a basic unmanaged switch.<\/strong> There&#8217;s no software to install and no settings to configure \u2014 the switch begins working the moment it has power and a connection back to your router.<\/li><li><strong>If you bought a &#8220;smart&#8221; or &#8220;managed&#8221; switch instead<\/strong>, you can optionally log into its web interface (usually by typing its IP address into a browser) to configure more advanced features \u2014 but this step is entirely optional for most home and small-office use, and the switch will still work with zero configuration if you skip it.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Network_Switches_to_Buy\"><\/span>Best Network Switches to Buy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the vast majority of home and small-office needs, here are the most consistently recommended models:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>TP-Link TL-SG108<\/strong> \u2014 Frequently the top overall pick for most users: 8 gigabit ports, metal construction, silent fanless operation, and one of the best-selling switches on the market with a strong review track record.<\/li><li><strong>NETGEAR GS308<\/strong> \u2014 A close alternative to the TP-Link, offering the same core 8-port gigabit, plug-and-play simplicity with NETGEAR&#8217;s typically strong warranty coverage.<\/li><li><strong>TP-Link TL-SG105<\/strong> \u2014 The right pick if you only need a handful of extra ports (it supports 4 connected devices plus the uplink), ideal as a small expander in a single room rather than a whole-home solution.<\/li><li><strong>NETGEAR GS308E \/ TP-Link TL-SG108E<\/strong> \u2014 &#8220;Smart managed&#8221; versions of the above unmanaged models, adding basic VLAN and traffic prioritization features for only a small price premium \u2014 worth considering if you might want IoT device isolation or prioritized video-call traffic down the line.<\/li><li><strong>NETGEAR MS308 (2.5G Multi-Gigabit)<\/strong> or similar 2.5G unmanaged switches \u2014 Worth the upgrade if you have newer devices like a Wi-Fi 6\/6E access point or a NAS that can actually use faster-than-gigabit speeds; standard gigabit switches remain plenty fast for typical streaming, gaming, and browsing.<\/li><li><strong>TP-Link TL-SG108PE or similar PoE-enabled smart switches<\/strong> \u2014 Only necessary if you specifically need to power devices like IP cameras or access points directly through the switch; skip this category entirely if you don&#8217;t have PoE devices, since it adds meaningful cost for a feature you won&#8217;t use.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For most people setting up a home or small office, an 8-port unmanaged gigabit switch like the TP-Link TL-SG108 or NETGEAR GS308 covers the need completely \u2014 the more advanced options above only matter if you have a specific reason to need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Network_Switch_Pricing_and_Where_to_Buy\"><\/span>Network Switch Pricing and Where to Buy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to expect to pay across the common categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Basic 5-port unmanaged switches<\/strong> \u2014 Roughly $15\u2013$25, the cheapest way to add just a few extra wired ports in one room.<\/li><li><strong>Basic 8-port unmanaged switches<\/strong> \u2014 Roughly $18\u2013$30, the most popular category for home use, offering the best balance of port count and price for typical needs.<\/li><li><strong>Smart\/web-managed 8-port switches<\/strong> \u2014 Roughly $30\u2013$45, adding basic VLAN and traffic-prioritization features for a modest premium over fully unmanaged models.<\/li><li><strong>2.5 Gigabit unmanaged switches (8-port)<\/strong> \u2014 Roughly $50\u2013$90, worth it specifically if you have newer high-speed devices that can actually use the extra bandwidth.<\/li><li><strong>8-port switches with PoE<\/strong> \u2014 Roughly $60\u2013$100+ depending on total power budget, needed only if you&#8217;re powering cameras, access points, or similar devices directly through the switch.<\/li><li><strong>Larger 16 to 24-port unmanaged or smart switches<\/strong> \u2014 Roughly $60\u2013$180, appropriate once you&#8217;re well beyond typical home needs, such as a small office or a home with an extensive wired setup.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where to buy:<\/strong> Major retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart) and the manufacturers&#8217; own websites (TP-Link, NETGEAR) all carry these switches at consistent pricing, with Amazon typically offering the widest selection and fastest shipping for the most popular models. Buying from the manufacturer directly or a major retailer, rather than an unfamiliar third-party marketplace listing, is worth the small peace of mind for a device that&#8217;s simple but still needs to be genuinely reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_You_Actually_Need_a_Network_Switch_Beginner_FAQ\"><\/span>Do You Actually Need a Network Switch? Beginner FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re still not sure whether this applies to your situation, here&#8217;s a straightforward FAQ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How do I know if I actually need a switch?<\/strong> If you&#8217;ve run out of open Ethernet ports on your router and have more devices you&#8217;d like to connect with a wired cable rather than Wi-Fi, that&#8217;s the clearest sign you need one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can&#8217;t I just use Wi-Fi for everything instead?<\/strong> You can, and for many devices Wi-Fi is perfectly fine \u2014 but a wired connection through a switch is generally faster, more consistent, and has lower latency than Wi-Fi, which matters more for things like gaming consoles, desktop PCs used for video calls, or any device where a dropped or slow connection is especially annoying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do I need to know anything technical to set one up?<\/strong> No \u2014 for a basic unmanaged switch, the entire setup is plugging in power and one cable back to your router, then connecting your devices. There&#8217;s no software, no login, and no configuration required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Will adding a switch slow down my internet?<\/strong> No \u2014 a switch doesn&#8217;t add any meaningful delay, and a wired connection through a switch is typically faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi, not slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What if I only need one or two extra ports \u2014 is a switch overkill?<\/strong> Not at all \u2014 a small 5-port switch is inexpensive and perfectly suited for adding just a couple of extra wired connections in one room, like a desk with both a computer and a printer that need to be wired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is there any downside to just buying more ports than I currently need?<\/strong> Not really, beyond a small extra cost \u2014 an 8-port switch costs only a little more than a 5-port one, and having a couple of spare ports available for future devices is generally worth that modest difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do I need a &#8220;smart&#8221; or &#8220;managed&#8221; switch, or is basic unmanaged enough?<\/strong> For the vast majority of home users, a basic unmanaged switch is genuinely all you need \u2014 smart or managed features (like isolating smart-home devices onto their own network, or prioritizing video calls) are nice extras, not requirements, and most people never end up using them even when available.<\/p>\n<div class='sfsi_Sicons' style='width: 100%; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; text-align:left'><div style='margin:0px 8px 0px 0px; line-height: 24px'><span>Please follow and like us:<\/span><\/div><div class='sfsi_socialwpr'><div class='sf_fb_share sf_icon' style='text-align:left;vertical-align: middle;'><a href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcciedump.spoto.net%2Fblog%2Fwhat-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html' style='display:inline-block;'  > <img class='sfsi_wicon'  data-pin-nopin='true' width='auto' height='auto' alt='fb-share-icon' title='Facebook Share' src='https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/visit_icons\/fbshare_bck.png'  \/><\/a><\/div><div class='sf_twiter sf_icon' style='display: inline-block;vertical-align: middle;width: auto;margin-left: 7px;'>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a target='_blank' href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=What+Is+a+Network+Switch+Used+For%3F+https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html'style='display:inline-block' >\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-pin-nopin= true width='auto' class='sfsi_wicon' src='https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/visit_icons\/en_US_Tweet.svg' alt='Tweet' title='Tweet' >\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='sf_pinit sf_icon' style='text-align:left;vertical-align: middle;float:left;line-height: 33px;width:auto;margin: 0 -2px;'><a href='#'  onclick='sfsi_pinterest_modal_images(event,\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\",\"What Is a Network Switch Used For?\")' style='display:inline-block;'  > <img class='sfsi_wicon'  data-pin-nopin='true' width='auto' height='auto' alt='fb-share-icon' title='Pin Share' src='https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/ultimate-social-media-icons\/images\/share_icons\/Pinterest_Save\/en_US_save.svg'  \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your router only has one or two open Ethernet ports and you&#8217;ve got a growing pile of devices that need a wired connection \u2014 a gaming console, a smart TV, a desktop PC, a printer \u2014 a network switch is almost certainly the simple fix you&#8217;re looking for. It&#8217;s one of the least glamorous&#8230; &raquo; <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\">read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Network Switch Used For? - SPOTO Official Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At its core, a network switch is a box that lets multiple wired devices talk to each other and to the rest of your network, without every device needing its own separate cable back to your router.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cciedump.spoto.net\/blog\/what-is-a-network-switch-used-for_23189.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is a Network Switch Used For? 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