packet switching

[/ˈpækɪt ˈswɪtʃɪŋ/]
noun
comutação de pacotes
1. A networking method in which data is broken into small blocks (packets) and transmitted independently across a network, with each packet potentially taking a different route to reach its destination
Packet switching allows multiple users to share network bandwidth efficiently by transmitting data in small, discrete units.
A comutação de pacotes permite que múltiplos usuários compartilhem a largura de banda da rede de forma eficiente, transmitindo dados em unidades pequenas e discretas.
2. The technology underlying modern internet communication where packets are reassembled at the destination
TCP/IP relies on packet switching to deliver information across the internet.
O TCP/IP depende da comutação de pacotes para entregar informações pela internet.
Packet switching is foundational to modern internet infrastructure, developed in the 1960s-70s. In Brazil, this term is primarily used in technical, academic, and professional IT contexts. The concept revolutionized telecommunications by replacing circuit-switching methods, making it a cornerstone concept in computer science education worldwide. The term is largely universal across English and Portuguese-speaking technical communities with minimal regional variation.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
data packet transmissionpacket-based networkingdatagram transmission
Antonyms / Antônimos
circuit switchingconnection-oriented switching

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
comutação de pacotes
Standard term used in technical documentation and education
Portugal
comutação por pacotes
Alternate phrasing used in European Portuguese technical contexts
São Paulo
comutação de pacotes
Technical term used in IT industry and universities
USA
packet switching
Original English term widely used in networking industry

Related Words

packetroutingnetworkdatagramTCP/IPbandwidthlatencythroughput

Related Idioms & Phrases

break data into packets
route packets through the network
packet loss
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