Which device is primarily responsible for segmenting a larger network to reduce collisions?

The device that is primarily responsible for segmenting a larger network to reduce collisions is a switch. Switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and facilitate communication between devices within a network by creating a separate collision domain for each connected device. This means that each device can transmit data without interfering with others, significantly reducing the chances of collisions in the network.

When switches receive data packets, they examine the MAC addresses to determine the appropriate destination port and direct the packets specifically to the intended recipient. This targeted approach contrasts with older networking devices, such as hubs, which broadcast data to all connected devices, leading to collisions and network inefficiency.

Routers are primarily used to route traffic between different networks and operate at the network layer (Layer 3). They do not segment the collision domain in the same way a switch does, thus not serving the same primary purpose of reducing collisions within a local network.

Bridges can also connect and filter traffic between network segments, but they are less commonly used than switches in modern networks for collision reduction. Bridges work by passing traffic based on MAC addresses but do so less efficiently than switches.

Therefore, a switch is the best answer for the question about segmenting a larger network to reduce