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Packet Switching


In a packet switched data network, the data are assembled into chunks of data called packets.

Each packet contains some information about the source (where it is coming from) and the destination (where it is going).

A packet switched data network is made of several computers called Packet Switching Exchange linked together.
A Packet Switching Exchange "examines" each packet and decides where to send it to move it closer to its final destination.
Packets generated from the same data can travel different routes and arrive in a different order.

At the destination, the Packet Switching Exchange passes the packets to the receiving computer which makes sure that the packets are put back into the original sequence.


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