A router connects your home network to the internet and assigns private IPs. A switch adds wired ports inside that network. Most home “routers” include a small switch, Wi-Fi radios, and a modem link (WAN).
Quick comparison
- Router: WAN + LAN, NAT, DHCP, firewall, often Wi-Fi
- Switch: forwards Ethernet frames between local devices, no internet sharing by itself
When to buy a switch
You need more Ethernet ports for PCs, consoles, or access points, and your router already provides internet.
