29/05/2024, 22:38 Difference between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching - GeeksforGeeks

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Difference between Circuit Switching and

Packet Switching
Last Updated : 18 Mar, 2023

What is Circuit Switching?

Circuit switching is a communication method where a dedicated

communication path, or circuit, is established between two devices before
data transmission begins. The circuit remains dedicated to the
communication for the duration of the session, and no other devices can use
it while the session is in progress. Circuit switching is commonly used in
voice communication and some types of data communication.

Advantages of Circuit Switching:

Guaranteed bandwidth: Circuit switching provides a dedicated path for

communication, ensuring that bandwidth is guaranteed for the duration of
the call.
Low latency: Circuit switching provides low latency because the path is
predetermined, and there is no need to establish a connection for each
packet.
Predictable performance: Circuit switching provides predictable
performance because the bandwidth is reserved, and there is no
competition for resources.
Suitable for real-time communication: Circuit switching is suitable for
real-time communication, such as voice and video, because it provides
low latency and predictable performance.

Disadvantages of Circuit Switching:

Inefficient use of bandwidth: Circuit switching is inefficient because the

bandwidth is reserved for the entire duration of the call, even when no
data is being transmitted.
Limited scalability: Circuit switching is limited in its scalability because
the number of circuits that can be established is finite, which can limit the
number of simultaneous calls that can be made.
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29/05/2024, 22:38 Difference between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching - GeeksforGeeks

High cost: Circuit switching is expensive because it requires dedicated

resources, such as hardware and bandwidth, for the duration of the call.

What is Packet Switching?

Packet switching is a communication method where data is divided into

smaller units called packets and transmitted over the network. Each packet
contains the source and destination addresses, as well as other information
needed for routing. The packets may take different paths to reach their
destination, and they may be transmitted out of order or delayed due to
network congestion.

Advantages of Packet Switching:

Efficient use of bandwidth: Packet switching is efficient because

bandwidth is shared among multiple users, and resources are allocated
only when data needs to be transmitted.
Flexible: Packet switching is flexible and can handle a wide range of data
rates and packet sizes.
Scalable: Packet switching is highly scalable and can handle large
amounts of traffic on a network.
Lower cost: Packet switching is less expensive than circuit switching
because resources are shared among multiple users.

Disadvantages of Packet Switching:

Higher latency: Packet switching has higher latency than circuit switching
because packets must be routed through multiple nodes, which can cause
delay.
Limited QoS: Packet switching provides limited QoS guarantees, meaning
that different types of traffic may be treated equally.
Packet loss: Packet switching can result in packet loss due to congestion
on the network or errors in transmission.
Unsuitable for real-time communication: Packet switching is not suitable
for real-time communication, such as voice and video, because of the
potential for latency and packet loss.

Similarities:

Both methods involve the transmission of data over a network.

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29/05/2024, 22:38 Difference between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching - GeeksforGeeks

Both methods use a physical layer of the OSI model for transmission of
data.
Both methods can be used to transmit voice, video, and data.
Both methods can be used in the same network infrastructure.
Both methods can be used for both wired and wireless networks.

Difference between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching:

Circuit Switching Packet Switching

In-circuit switching has there are 3 phases:

i) Connection Establishment. In Packet switching directly
ii) Data Transfer. data transfer takes place.
iii) Connection Released.

In Packet switching, each data

In-circuit switching, each data unit knows unit just knows the final
the entire path address which is provided by destination address
the source. intermediate path is decided by
the routers.

In Packet switching, data is

In-Circuit switching, data is processed at the processed at all intermediate
source system only nodes including the source
system.

The delay between data units in circuit The delay between data units in
switching is uniform. packet switching is not uniform.

Resource reservation is the feature of circuit There is no resource reservation

switching because the path is fixed for data because bandwidth is shared
transmission. among users.

Circuit switching is more reliable. Packet switching is less reliable.

Wastage of resources is more in Circuit Less wastage of resources as

Switching compared to Circuit Switching

It is not a store and forward technique. It is a store and forward

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29/05/2024, 22:38 Difference between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching - GeeksforGeeks

Circuit Switching Packet Switching

technique.

Transmission of the data is

Transmission of the data is done by the done not only by the source but
source. also by the intermediate
routers.

Congestion can occur during the connection Congestion can occur during the
establishment phase because there might data transfer phase, a large
be a case where a request is being made for number of packets comes in no
a channel but the channel is already time.
occupied.

Circuit switching is not convenient for Packet switching is suitable for

handling bilateral traffic. handling bilateral traffic.

In-Circuit switching, the charge depends on In Packet switching, the charge

time and distance, not on traffic in the is based on the number of bytes
network. and connection time.

Recording of packets is never possible in Recording of packets is possible

circuit switching. in packet switching.

In Packet Switching there is no

In-Circuit Switching there is a physical path
physical path between the
between the source and the destination
source and the destination

Circuit Switching does not support store and Packet Switching supports store
forward transmission and forward transmission

No call setup is required in

Call setup is required in circuit switching.
packet switching.

In-circuit switching each packet follows the In packet switching packets can
same route. follow any route.

The circuit switching network is Packet switching is

implemented at the physical layer. implemented at the datalink

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