Difference Between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching

What is Packet Switching?

We can define packet switching as a connectionless network. The messages in packet switching are divided and grouped together in the form of packets. After that, each packet is routed from the source to the destination in the form of individual packets. These packets carry the actual data by the payload. It is the responsibility of the destination to put these packets in the right order, when the packet arrives at the destination. This switching can be considered useful as an alternative to circuit switching. In the packet-switched network, data moves in discrete units having variable lengths. Now let us explore more about the advantages and disadvantages of packet switching.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Packet Switching

Advantages

1. We do not find any delay in the delivery of the packets because they are sent to the destination as soon as they are available.
2. We do not find any requirement for massive storage space because the information is passed on to the destination as soon as they are received.
3. Due to the failure in the links, the delivery of the data is not stopped as these packets can be routed from different paths too.
4. The same channel can be used by multiple users while transferring their packets.
5. We find the usage of bandwidth better in case of packet switching because multiple sources can transfer packets from the same source link.

Disadvantages

1. Packet switching is very expensive to install.
2. Even when complicated protocols are used, the delivery of these packets becomes easy.
3. We cannot use high-quality voice calls in packet switching because there is a lot of delay in this type of communication.
4. As a result of connectivity issues, loss of information and delay in the delivery of the information can take place.

What is Circuit Switching?

We can define circuit switching as the method of switching used for establishment of a dedicated communication path between the sender and the receiver. The link established between the sender and the receiver is in the physical form. We find the analog telephone network as a well-known example of circuit switching. In this type of switching, bandwidth is fixed. Now let us explore more about the advantages and disadvantages of circuit switching.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Circuit Switching

Advantages

1. We have fixed bandwidth.
2. Since a dedicated communication channel is used, the quality of communication is comparatively increased.
3. The rate of data transmission is fixed.
4. There is no wastage of time in waiting.
5. We prefer it for long and continuous communication.

Disadvantages

1. Due to the use of dedicated channels, more bandwidth is required.
2. The resources are not fully utilized.
3. Since a dedicated channel has been used, the transmission of other data becomes impossible.
4. It takes a long time for the establishment of the physical link by the two stations.
5. Since every connection uses a dedicated path establishment, Circuit switching is expensive.
6. Until and unless the user terminates the link, the link between the sender and the receiver will be maintained. If there is no transfer of data taking place, then this will also continue.

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Circuit Switching Vs Packet Switching

We can also define circuit switching as a method of switching that uses a dedicated connection between the sender and the receiver for the transfer of data. There are three phases of circuit switching mentioned below:-

1. Circuit Establishment: Between the sender and the receiver, we establish a dedicated physical route. The path may have a number of intermediate switching centers.
2. Transfer of Data: When the establishment or setup phase is done, the data is transferred through these dedicated paths.
3. Circuit Disconnect: When the data transfer is done, we disconnect the circuit from either of the two ends. In this phase, all the intermediate links are disconnected.

We find the use of circuit switching in telephones.

On the contrary, in the packet switching method, the data is broken into “pieces” or “packets”. It is transmitted individually from the source to the destination. After the packets are received, they are reassembled at the destination. In this method we do not require any pre-establishment of the dedicated route. There are two types of packet switching as mentioned below:-

1. Virtual Circuit Based Packet Switching: In this mode of packet switching, for each packet we establish the virtual circuits. Each packet is then transmitted through the predestined route. In this mode we find similar phases as in the circuit switching method.
2. Datagram Based Packet Switching: In this mode of packet switching, every packet has two parts. They are known as a header and a payload. The header of a packet contains the required information i.e. source and destination addresses, port identity, etc. On the contrary the payload contains the original data. Without any predestined path, these packets are transmitted randomly. All the packets are arranged and assembled, based on the header information at the receiver end.

NCERT Physics Notes :

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Now, let us understand the comparison between circuit switching and packet switching with the help of the following table.

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