What is the role of a network switch?

A network switch plays a crucial role in managing communication within a local area network (LAN) by connecting multiple devices, such as computers, printers, and servers, allowing them to communicate effectively. By receiving data packets from one device and forwarding them to the appropriate destination device within the same network, a switch facilitates efficient data transfer and helps maintain network performance. This functionality is essential for devices in a LAN to share resources and communicate with each other seamlessly.

The other options suggest functions that network switches do not perform. While firewalls are responsible for protecting a network by monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing traffic, switches do not inherently provide this security function. Similarly, internet access is typically facilitated by a router rather than a switch, which specifically operates at the data link layer to manage local traffic. Lastly, encryption of data packets is not a function of a switch; rather, this task is commonly performed by dedicated security devices or protocols that ensure data confidentiality during transmission.