What is circuit switching

Switching involves sending data along routes so that it can be sent from the sender to the receiver. Circuit switching is a switching technique in which data travels along a dedicated communication path between a source and a destination. The resources along the path are reserved for that circuit for the duration of the connection.

Phases

The three phases of communication in a circuit-switched network are as follows:

1. Circuit establishment

A dedicated circuit is established between the source and the destination through several intermediate switches.

2. Data transfer

Once the circuit is established, the sender starts to send data to the receiver.

3. Tear down

Upon completion of the data transfer, the established connection is terminated. All the nodes involved in the connection are notified to release the resources that were reserved for the circuit.

The illustration below explains this concept:

Advantages and Disadvantages

The following are some important advantages and disadvantages of circuit switching: