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Packet switching breaks up data into small packets, minimizing errors and traffic bottlenecks, and allowing for efficient use of network bandwidth. Routing software labels each packet with header information, allowing for reassembly at the destination. This technology was developed in the 1960s as an improvement on circuit switching, which is inefficient for large amounts of data on the internet.
Packet switching is a technology that breaks up data in network communications into small manageable pieces, called packets. By sending a large file in several small blocks over a network, packet switching minimizes the impact of data transmission errors. Traffic bottlenecks are also avoided, allowing data to flow as efficiently as possible on the network.
The idea of network communications involves following an exact set of rules to move data from one location, or node, on the network to another. The internet is simply one big network, and packet switching occurs when all of your data moves across the internet. Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and Frame Relay are examples of packet switching protocols. Some mobile phone technologies also use this type of technology.
When using packet switching, network routing software divides the file into several small data packets of between 1,000 and 1,500 bytes each, labeling each packet with header information. In the header, the routing software includes instructions for reassembling the file from the packets in the correct order. It also includes destination information, before sending packets over the network.
As packets travel across the network, they may be separated, taking different routes, depending on Internet traffic. Routers and switches on the network use header information to determine the most efficient path to move each packet to its destination. Packet switching allows for efficient use of network bandwidth, because sending many small packets fits the network capacity better than sending large files intact.
Once the packets arrive at their destination, regardless of the order in which they arrive, the routing software correctly reassembles the file, using the header information. If all packages arrived intact and error-free, the file is ready to use. However, if a packet arrived with an error, routing software can request that the packet be resent. Using this technology, only a portion of the entire file needs to be resent, which reduces overall network traffic.
Paul Baran and Donald Davies independently developed the idea of packet switching in the early 1960s. This is an improvement on circuit switching technology, which has been commonly used in landline telephone networks for many years. With circuit switching, a leased line carries all data traffic related to a particular file. Circuit switching works well for fast delivery of a large file because it has no delays. However, moving large amounts of data to and from thousands of nodes simultaneously, as is done on the Internet, would be incredibly inefficient using circuit switching.
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