packet switching

noun

A means of directing digitally encoded information in a communication network from its source to its destination, in which messages may be divided into smaller entities called packets, each of which travels independently through the network in paths based on moment-to-moment routing decisions made by the nodes through which they pass.

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Meanings

nounpacket switching (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputingA means of directing digitally encoded information in a communication network from its source to its destination, in which messages may be divided into smaller entities called packets, each of which travels independently through the network in paths based on moment-to-moment routing decisions made by the nodes through which they pass.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 分組交換 /分组交换
  • 分組交換 /分组交换 (fēnzǔ jiāohuàn)means of directing information in a network
Finnish pakettikytkentä
  • pakettikytkentämeans of directing information in a network
Romanian comutare de pachete
  • comutare de pachetemeans of directing information in a network
Spanish conmutación de paquetes
  • conmutación de paquetesmeans of directing information in a network
Cite this entry
APA

packet switching. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/packet%20switching

MLA

“packet switching.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/packet%20switching. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “packet switching,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/packet%20switching.

Source: packet switching on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.