What does Ethernet use to perform traffic filtering between segments?

Ethernet relies on network switches to perform traffic filtering between segments. Switches operate at the Data Link layer of the OSI model, which allows them to make decisions based on the MAC (Media Access Control) addresses found in the Ethernet frames. When a switch receives a data packet, it examines the destination MAC address and uses its MAC address table to determine which port to forward the packet to, effectively filtering traffic by directing it only to the devices that need it, rather than broadcasting it to all devices on the network.

This targeted forwarding enhances network efficiency and reduces unnecessary traffic on the segments. Unlike hubs, which broadcast all incoming traffic to every port, switches intelligently manage data flow. Routers, while they can filter traffic, operate at a higher layer (Network layer) and segment networks based on IP addresses. Firewalls focus on inspecting and controlling traffic based on security policies across different networks rather than within the same segment. This makes switches the ideal choice for filtering traffic in an Ethernet environment.