Question on STP: Why are switches called bridges now?

I'm reading up STP now. Some of the new terms I come across are Bridge Priority, Bridge ID, Root Bridge. Why are switches called bridges now when coming to STP?

Are they Cisco terms? Through my CCNA study, I often found CCNA terminologies and commands quite weird and confusing. Wonder if Cisco did it on purpose.

Find more posts tagged with

SAVE $250 on Your CISCO Boot Camp — Use Code "EXAM26"

Exclusively for TechExams members for Infosec Boot Camps starting before April 30, 2026

View CISCO Boot Camps

Comments

NetworkVeteran

The terms "Bridge" and "Switch", like most CCNA terms, are not Cisco-specific but rather widely recognized in the industry. I thought the CCNA Cisco Press books explained the historical difference between a Repeater and a Hub, and a Bridge and a Switch? If not, consider picking up a Network+ book or video series to help you understand more basic concepts like these--

Bridge vs Switch

ptilsen

Switch and bridge are equivalent terms, for the most part. They operate on the same OSI and TCP layers and perform the same functions. Just Google "switch vs. bridge" and read up on the practical differences. In this context, I don't believe the distinction is particularly relevant, though there may be someone more Cisco-savvy that has an explanation for why bridge is preferred for STP nomenclature.

NetworkVeteran

ptilsen wrote: »

there may be someone more Cisco-savvy that has an explanation for why bridge is preferred for STP nomenclature.

Switches didn't exist when the STP nomenclature was created. This had little to do with Cisco, except that Cisco like many vendors implements it, since they neither invented the STP protocol nor invented the first switch.

bbarrick

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

The terms "Bridge" and "Switch", like most CCNA terms, are not Cisco-specific but rather widely recognized in the industry. I thought the CCNA Cisco Press books explained the historical difference between a Repeater and a Hub, and a Bridge and a Switch? If not, consider picking up a Network+ book or video series to help you understand more basic concepts like these--

Bridge vs Switch

In the new 100-101 book there was no mention of repeater when talking about the difference between a hub, bridge and switch. It just said a bridge and switch work the same way, the only exception is switch's are faster, I guess bridge's were limited to 10 Mbps?

MosGuy

bbarrick wrote: »

In the new 100-101 book there was no mention of repeater when talking about the difference between a hub, bridge and switch. It just said a bridge and switch work the same way, the only exception is switch's are faster, I guess bridge's were limited to 10 Mbps?

Historically bridges and switches had the same basic goal; to help segment the network vs using hubs. Speed wise: it's mainly because bridges were software based, whereas switches use hardware i.e ASIC chip.