Bridge

Bridging is a forwarding technique used in packet-switched computer networks. Unlike routing, bridging makes no assumptions about where in a network a particular address is located. Instead, it depends on flooding and examination of source addresses in received packet headers to locate unknown devices. Once a device has been located, its location is recorded in a table where the source address is stored so as to avoid the need for further flooding. The utility of bridging is limited by its dependence on flooding, and is thus only used in local area networks.