Glossary of Data Communications Terms

Courtesy Enterprise-Wide Computing, Inc.

Term: bridge
Definition: the hardware and software necessary for two networks using the same or similar technology to communicate; more specifically the hardware and software necessary to link segments of the same or similar networks at the Data Link Layer of the OSI Reference Model, i.e., a MAC Level Bridge; a router that connects two or more networks and forwards packets among them. Usually, bridges operate at the physical network level. Bridges differ from repeaters because bridges store and forward complete packets while repeaters forward electrical signals. A device which forwards traffic between network segments based on datalink layer information. These segments would have a common network layer address. See also: gateway, router.

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Last Modified:
Wednesday, April 22, 1998