Hub (Computing)

What Does Hub (Computing) Mean?

A hub is the connection point in a computer device where data from many directions converge and are then sent out in many directions to respective devices. A hub may also act as a switch by preventing specific data packets from proceeding to a destination.

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Techopedia Explains Hub (Computing)

In addition to receiving and transmitting communication data, a hub may also server as a switch. For example, an airport acts much like a hub in the sense that passengers converge there and head out in many different directions. Suppose that an airline passenger arrives at the airport hub and is then called back home unexpectedly, or receives instructions to change his or her destination. The same may occur with a computing hub when it acts as a switch by preventing specific data packets from proceeding to a destination, while sending other data packets on a specific route. Where packets are sent depends on attributes (MAC addresses) within the data packets. A switch may also act as a hub.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…