Circuit switching vs packet switching

Circuit Switching : Connection-Oriented

In circuit switching, a dedicated communication path or circuit is established between the sender and receiver for the entire duration of the communication. This path remains open, even if there is no data being transmitted. It’s a connection-oriented approach.

Fixed Bandwidth

The allocated bandwidth is reserved for the entire duration of the call, regardless of whether data is actively being transmitted. This results in a constant, fixed data rate. Circuit switching is efficient for continuous data streams, such as voice and video, where a constant, dedicated connection is required.

Examples

• Circuit switching is commonly associated with traditional telephone networks (PSTN – Public Switched Telephone Network). When you make a phone call, a circuit is established for the duration of the call.