Which statement correctly distinguishes a broadcast domain from a collision domain?

Which statement correctly distinguishes a broadcast domain from a collision domain?

• A. A broadcast domain is a segment where unicast traffic is filtered; a collision domain is where broadcast frames propagate.
• B. A broadcast domain is a network segment where broadcast frames propagate; a collision domain is a network segment where collisions can occur; switches segment collision domains and routers segment broadcast domains.
• C. A collision domain is the same as a broadcast domain.
• D. Routers segment collision domains and switches segment broadcast domains.

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is the difference between broadcast domains and collision domains, and how network devices affect them. A broadcast domain is the network portion where a broadcast frame is forwarded. In practice, broadcasts are carried across devices like switches but are not forwarded by routers, so routers create boundaries for broadcast domains. A collision domain is the portion of the network where multiple devices could transmit at the same time and cause collisions; switches isolate collision domains (each switch port is its own collision domain), while hubs share a single collision domain. Routers also separate collision domains, just as switches separate them. That makes the statement correct: a broadcast domain is where broadcast frames propagate, a collision domain is where collisions can occur, switches segment collision domains, and routers segment broadcast domains. It’s also worth noting that VLANs on switches can further segment broadcast domains, while basic switches without VLANs do not.

The concept being tested is the difference between broadcast domains and collision domains, and how network devices affect them. A broadcast domain is the network portion where a broadcast frame is forwarded. In practice, broadcasts are carried across devices like switches but are not forwarded by routers, so routers create boundaries for broadcast domains. A collision domain is the portion of the network where multiple devices could transmit at the same time and cause collisions; switches isolate collision domains (each switch port is its own collision domain), while hubs share a single collision domain. Routers also separate collision domains, just as switches separate them.

That makes the statement correct: a broadcast domain is where broadcast frames propagate, a collision domain is where collisions can occur, switches segment collision domains, and routers segment broadcast domains. It’s also worth noting that VLANs on switches can further segment broadcast domains, while basic switches without VLANs do not.