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bridge - technical definition

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A simple, protocol-specific device that interconnects two or more links in a circuit, reading the destination address of an incoming data frame and forwarding to the next link in the direction of the target device. A bridge also acts as a repeater, amplifying, reshaping, and retiming the input signal. A bridge does not perform complex processes on the data frames, and neither does it attempt to evaluate the network as a whole to make end-to-end routing decisions.
A simple, protocol-specific device that interconnects two or more segments in a local area network (LAN), or two or more LANs of the same architecture (e.g., Ethernet-to-Ethernet).A bridge reads the destination address of an incoming data frame and forwards it to the next segment in the direction of the target device. A bridge also acts as a repeater, amplifying, reshaping and retiming the input signal to extend the physical reach of the LAN. Bridges operate at the lower two layers of the OSI Reference Model, providing Physical Layer and Data Link Layer connectivity. Specific bridge protocols include source routing protocol (SRP), source routing transparent (SRT), spanning tree protocol (STP). See also architecture, circuit, Data Link Layer, encapsulating bridge, filtering bridge, frame, LAN, link, OSI Reference Model, Physical Layer, protocol, repeater, router, self-learning bridge, SRP, SRT, and STP.

See bridge in Computer

(1) To cross from one circuit, channel or element over to another.

(2) See Wi-Fi bridge and wireless bridge.

(3) A device that connects two LAN segments together, which may be similar or dissimilar, such as Ethernet and Token Ring. A bridge is inserted in the network to keep traffic contained within the segments to improve performance. By monitoring which station acknowledged receipt of the address, bridges learn which nodes belong to the segment and maintain their own address tables. Multiport bridges have more than two ports and perform a switching function just like a LAN switch.

Bridges Vs. Routers
Bridges work at layer 2 and are not protocol dependent. Routers work at layer 3 and are protocol dependent. Bridges are faster than routers because they do not have to glean routing information. See LAN, transparent bridge, repeater, router, gateway and hub. See also conference bridge.