How does a switch operate in comparison to a hub?

A switch operates by forwarding packets to the specific device on the network that is associated with a particular port, rather than broadcasting them to all devices. This ability comes from the switch's use of a MAC address table, which it builds as it learns the addresses of devices connected to its ports. When a packet arrives, the switch looks up the destination MAC address in its table and sends the packet only to the appropriate port, optimizing network performance and reducing unnecessary traffic on the network.

In contrast, a hub sends incoming packets to all ports, regardless of the intended recipient. This means every device on the network receives the data, which can lead to increased collisions and network congestion. The enhanced functionality of switches allows them to manage data traffic more efficiently than hubs, resulting in better overall network performance and security.

The other options, such as storing packets or encrypting them, do not accurately describe the primary operational differences between switches and hubs. Switches do not typically store packets for later use, and while they can facilitate secure communications through other means, they do not inherently encrypt packets as part of their core functionality.