CompTIA ITF+ Practice Test

A switch is specifically designed to connect multiple computers within a local area network (LAN). It operates at the data link layer of the OSI model, functioning by receiving incoming data packets from connected devices and forwarding them to the appropriate destination devices based on their MAC addresses. This allows for efficient communication between devices in the same network, enabling data transfer and collaboration.

In contrast, a router connects different networks together, directing data between them, but it does not specifically connect multiple computers within the same local network. A modem serves as a bridge between your local network and the internet, converting analog signals to digital and vice versa. A server provides services or resources to other computers on a network but does not directly connect them in the way a switch does. Thus, in the context of connecting multiple computers on a network, a switch is the most appropriate device.