Difference between hub, switch and router

Networking device are essential hardware component that facilitate communication and data exchange between devices within a network. Networking device are used to connect computers, printers, fax machines and other electronic devices to a network. Some networking device like bridge, gateway, modem, repeater, NIC, etc. Among this device, hub, switch and router are also a networking device. The difference between hub, switch and router are given below:

Differences bewteen hub, switch and router

Parameter	Hub	Switch	Router
Definition	Device that is used to connect multiple device	Device which is used to create network	Device that is used to connect different network
Intelligence	Not intelligent	Intelligent	Intelligent
Device	Broadcast device	Multicast device	A routing device
Work as	Half duplex mode	Full duplex mode	Full duplex mode
OSI layer	Works on layer 1 or physical layer	Works on layer 2 or data link layer	Works on layer 3 or network layer
Address use	Use electrical signal or bit to send data	Use MAC address to send data	Use IP address to send data
Speed	Slow	Faster than hub	Faster than switch
Used in	LANs	LANs	LAN, MAN and WAN

Therefore, hub connects multiple devices in a network and broadcasts incoming data to all connected device without filtering, while switch connects devices within a network and intelligently directs incoming data to the specific device based on MAC address where as router connects different networks and routes data between them based on IP address.