Which network device is specifically designed to handle data based on MAC addresses?

A switch is specifically designed to handle data based on MAC addresses. In networking, switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, which means they are responsible for forwarding packets of data to specific devices within a local area network (LAN) based on their unique MAC (Media Access Control) addresses.

When a switch receives a data frame, it examines the destination MAC address and looks it up in its MAC address table to determine which port to send the data to. This targeted forwarding process improves the efficiency and speed of data transmission across the network because it reduces unnecessary data traffic, unlike a hub, which broadcasts data to all connected devices without consideration of MAC addresses.

In contrast, routers operate at a higher layer (Layer 3) and use IP addresses for routing data between different networks. Modems serve the purpose of modulating and demodulating signals for communication over telephone or cable lines, and they do not manage MAC addresses. Hubs, as basic networking devices, transmit data to all connected devices on a network without filtering it, making them less efficient than switches. Therefore, the use of MAC addresses is fundamental to how switches manage data traffic effectively in a network environment.