What network device primarily functions to segment traffic and enhance performance?

A switch primarily functions to segment network traffic and enhance performance by using MAC addresses to determine the destination of each data packet. When a switch receives a data packet, it reads the packet's destination MAC address and forwards the packet only to the specific device connected to the appropriate port, rather than broadcasting it to all devices on the network. This selective data forwarding significantly reduces unnecessary traffic on the network, which improves overall performance and efficiency.

In contrast, routers manage traffic between different networks and direct data packets based on IP addresses, making them more suited for connecting diverse networks rather than segmenting local traffic. Hubs operate simply as basic devices that broadcast incoming packets to all ports, creating congestion and collision domains, which decreases performance. Bridges connect and filter traffic between different segments of a network, but they do not perform as efficiently as switches in a modern network setup, where switches have largely taken over the functions of bridging with added capabilities.