🎁 New User? Get 20% off your first purchase with code NEWUSER20 · ⚡ Instant download · 🔒 Secure checkout Register Now →
Menu

Categories

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

HTTPS Everywhere
The practice of securing all web traffic with TLS encryption, ensuring data integrity and privacy between browsers and servers.
Proxy Server
An intermediary server that forwards requests between clients and destination servers, providing caching, filtering, or anonymity.
DNS Record Types
Different types of DNS entries that map domain names to various information like IP addresses, mail servers, and verification strings.
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)
A network protocol used for diagnostic and error reporting, including ping and traceroute functionality.
Token Bucket Algorithm
A rate limiting algorithm that allows burst traffic by accumulating tokens at a fixed rate and consuming them per request.
VLAN (Virtual LAN)
A logical grouping of network devices that creates separate broadcast domains on the same physical network infrastructure.
 View All Networking Terms →