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NETWORKING · SWITCHING

Layer 3 Switch vs Router: What Is the Difference?

Both a Layer 3 switch and a router forward IP between networks, but a Layer 3 switch routes in hardware at high speed for traffic inside a site, while a router connects to outside networks with WAN interfaces, NAT and broader protocol support at lower throughput.

01

The Short Answer

A Layer 3 switch routes IP in its switching hardware, so it moves traffic between VLANs and subnets at close to wire speed, with high port density, inside a site or platform. A router routes in software at lower throughput but connects networks to the outside world, with WAN interfaces, NAT, VPNs and a wider protocol set, and far fewer ports.

02

Which to Use

Use a Layer 3 switch for fast routing between segments on site; use a router at the boundary to everything beyond it. Many networks use both: the switch handles local inter-VLAN routing, the router handles the uplink.

For more, see our guide to Layer 2 vs Layer 3 switches, or browse our industrial Ethernet switches.