packet switched

Definition

Electronic-communications network used commonly for sending and receiving data. In packet-switched transmission, the signal stream is broken into chunks (packets) of uniform size which are sent through the best available route. These packets commonly pass through several different paths and may arrive at the destination at different times for reassembly into their proper order at the receiving end. One of the two main types of electronic exchanges (the other is signal switched), it is the cheaper type of switching since it does not require exclusive use of any part of a network. See also switch.