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Networking Intermediate

What is Network Bridge?

A device or software that connects two or more network segments at the data link layer, forwarding traffic based on MAC addresses.

Network bridges operate at Layer 2 (Data Link) of the OSI model, forwarding Ethernet frames between segments based on MAC address tables. They learn which devices are on which port by examining source MAC addresses of incoming frames. Bridges extend network reach while filtering traffic — frames destined for the same segment are not forwarded. In virtualization, software bridges (Linux bridge, Open vSwitch) connect virtual machines to physical networks. Docker uses bridge networks by default for container communication. Bridges differ from routers (Layer 3, IP-based forwarding) and switches (modern multi-port bridges with hardware acceleration).

Related Terms

QoS (Quality of Service)
A set of techniques for managing network traffic to prioritize certain types of data and ensure performance for critical applications.
Proxy Server
An intermediary server that forwards requests between clients and destination servers, providing caching, filtering, or anonymity.
CIDR Notation
A compact method for specifying IP addresses and their associated routing prefix using a slash followed by the prefix length.
Network Topology
The physical or logical arrangement of nodes and connections in a computer network, such as star, mesh, ring, or bus configurations.
OSI Model
The seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection model that standardizes network communication functions from physical transmission to application protocols.
Latency
The time delay between sending a request and receiving a response, measured in milliseconds.
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