Packet-switched describes the type of network in which
relatively small units of data called packets are routed through
a network based on the destination address contained within each
packet. Breaking communication down into packets allows the same
data path to be shared among many users in the network. This
type of communication between sender and receiver is known as
connectionless (rather than dedicated). Most traffic over the
Internet uses packet switching and the Internet is basically a
connectionless network. Contrasted with packet-switched is
circuit-switched, a type of network such as the regular voice
telephone network in which the communication circuit (path) for
the call is set up and dedicated to the participants in that
call. For the duration of the connection, all resources on that
circuit are unavailable for other users. Voice calls using the
Internet's packet-switched system are possible. Each end of the
conversation is broken down into packets that are reassembled at
the other end. Another t