pakettikytkentäinen

Pakettikytkentäinen, meaning packet switching in Finnish, is a method of data transmission in telecommunications networks. Instead of establishing a dedicated, continuous circuit between two points for the duration of a communication session, packet switching breaks data into smaller units called packets. Each packet contains not only a portion of the data but also header information that includes the source and destination addresses, as well as other control data.

These packets are then sent independently through the network. They may travel along different routes and arrive at the destination out of order. The network infrastructure, such as routers, directs each packet based on its destination address. At the receiving end, the packets are reassembled in the correct sequence to reconstruct the original data.

This approach offers several advantages over traditional circuit switching. It allows for more efficient use of network resources because multiple users can share the same communication lines simultaneously. If a packet encounters a busy path, it can be rerouted, increasing network resilience. Packet switching is the fundamental technology behind the internet and most modern data networks, enabling the transfer of diverse types of information like web pages, emails, and video streams. It is a key component in the functioning of the global digital communication infrastructure.