A device that acts as a connection point between computers and can filter and forward data to a specified destination is called a:

A device that acts as a connection point between computers and can filter and forward data to a specified destination is best described as a switch. Switches operate at the data link layer of the OSI model and are designed to receive incoming data packets, inspect them, and decide where to send them based on their MAC addresses. This capability allows switches to efficiently manage the data traffic in a network by only sending data to the specific device it is intended for, rather than broadcasting it to all connected devices as a hub would.

In contrast to a hub, which simply forwards incoming data to all ports regardless of the destination, a switch intelligently sends the data only to the port connected to the intended recipient. This not only reduces unnecessary traffic on the network but also enhances security and improves overall performance.

Routers, while also capable of directing data, operate at a higher layer (the network layer) and are specifically designed to route data between different networks, often using IP addresses for this purpose. A network interface card (NIC) simply allows a device to connect to a network, but does not manage or filter data traffic like a switch does. Thus, the functionality of a switch is critical for the efficient operation of local area networks (LANs), making it the