What is the process described by 'cut-through switching'?

Cut-through switching is a method used by network switches to enhance the speed of data transmission. The correct answer discusses how a switch operating in cut-through mode forwards a frame as soon as it reads the destination MAC address. This allows for minimal latency because the switch doesn't wait for the entire frame to be received before sending it to the destination.

In this method, once the switch identifies the destination address, it immediately begins transmitting the frame toward the intended recipient. This leads to faster data transfer times compared to other methods, such as store-and-forward switching, where the switch waits to receive the complete frame and performs error checking before forwarding it.

The efficiency gained through cut-through switching is particularly beneficial in high-performance networks where reduced waiting time is crucial. This approach is ideal for networks with low error rates since it does not perform error checking, relying instead on the assumption that the data being sent is error-free, thus further speeding up the communication process.