A hub is a basic networking device that connects multiple computers or other network devices together. It serves as a central connection point within a network, allowing devices to communicate and share data. A hub has many ports, and when a data frame arrives at a port, it is broadcast to every other port, without considering whether it is destined for a particular destination or not. Hubs are generally used to connect computers in a LAN.
Compared to switches, hubs are less sophisticated and cannot provide routing capabilities or other advanced network services. They operate by forwarding packets across all ports indiscriminately, which is why they are sometimes referred to as "dumb switches". Hubs are categorized as Layer 1 devices in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model. They connect multiple computers together, transmitting data received at one port to all of its other ports without restriction.
In general, a hub refers to a hardware device that enables multiple devices or connections to connect to a computer. An example is a USB hub, which allows multiple USB devices to connect to one computer, even though that computer may only have a few USB connections.
