What is the purpose of Layer 2 switches?

Layer 2 switches play a critical role in network architecture by effectively interconnecting network segments and managing data traffic within the same local area network (LAN). Their primary function is to use MAC (Media Access Control) addresses to determine the correct destination for incoming packets of data. By examining the MAC address, a Layer 2 switch forwards data frames only to the intended recipient, reducing potential collisions and optimizing overall network performance.

This capability allows these switches to segment networks, increasing efficiency by reducing the number of devices that must process each packet, since packets are only sent to the port associated with the target MAC address, rather than broadcasting to all ports. Consequently, Layer 2 switches help improve network performance and security by confining traffic to specific segments and reducing unnecessary data flow across the entire network.

In contrast, the other options refer to functions that are either outside the scope of Layer 2 switches or are associated with different networking devices entirely.