Broadcast domain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A broadcast domain is a logical network segment in which any computer or other device connected to the network can directly transmit to any other in the domain without having to go through a routing device, provided that they share the same subnet and gateway address and are in the same VLAN, default or installed.
More specifically, a broadcast domain is the area of the computer network comprised of all the computers and networking devices that can be reached by sending a frame to the data link layer broadcast address.
A very basic network that uses hubs rather than switches or routers is like a post office clerk checking the mail. One clerk looks at each letter to confirm that the mail is not for himself or herself. When one letter (signal) is sent from one point, all the other points in the network will have to check in order to confirm that the letter (signal) is not for themselves. Routers and Layer-3 Switches are used to segment broadcast domains.
