CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) — Question 174

Which of the following devices forwards traffic based on MAC addresses?

Answer options

• A. Switch
• B. Router
• C. Firewall
• D. Gateway

Correct answer: A

Explanation

A switch operates at the data link layer and is specifically designed to forward traffic based on MAC addresses. In contrast, a router forwards packets based on IP addresses, a firewall filters traffic based on security policies, and a gateway acts as a bridge between different networks, typically translating protocols.