Packet-switched

In a packet-switched network, communication is broken down into data packets. This allows the same data path to be shared between multiple users on a network. This state of communication amongst the sender and receiver is often called connectionless. Most data that travels over the web uses the connectionless method of communication, making the internet predominately a packet-switched network. Circuit-switched is a type that contrasts packet-switched, and is typically the environment found in a telephone network. In this scenario, a communication path or circuit, is established for a phone call and dedicated to the users of that session. All resources on that particular circuit are unavailable to other users for the duration of that connection. It is possible to function voice calls with the packet-switched system used by the internet. This requires each end of the conversation to be broken down into packets and then reformulated at the other end.