What is the term used to describe a section of a network where collisions occur?

The term used to describe a section of a network where collisions occur is a Collision Domain. In networking, a collision domain refers to a network segment in which data packets can collide with one another when being sent across a shared medium. In a collision domain, if two devices transmit data simultaneously, their packets can interfere with each other, causing a collision. When this happens, both devices must stop transmission and retry at a later time.

Collision domains are typically associated with Ethernet networks, particularly in environments that use hubs or repeaters. In contrast, switches create separate collision domains for each port, significantly reducing the chances of collisions since each connected device can communicate without the risk of interfering with others.

Understanding collision domains is crucial for network design and troubleshooting. It allows network administrators to optimize performance by minimizing collisions and ensuring efficient data transmission.