How does a switch improve network performance compared to a hub?

A switch enhances network performance primarily by isolating collision domains. In a network that uses a hub, all devices share the same collision domain, which means that if two devices attempt to send data at the same time, collisions occur. This leads to network inefficiencies as the data must be retransmitted, causing delays and reducing overall throughput.

In contrast, a switch creates a separate collision domain for each connected device. This means that devices can communicate simultaneously without interference from each other, resulting in more efficient data transmission. The switch intelligently forwards data packets directly to the intended recipient based on MAC addresses, which minimizes collisions and optimizes the use of available bandwidth. As a result, a switch can significantly enhance the performance and responsiveness of a network, particularly in environments with many connected devices.

The other options do not effectively describe the advantages of switches over hubs. Reducing the number of devices that can connect does not inherently improve performance, and expanding network range pertains more to the physical connection capabilities rather than performance per se. Limiting data transfer speed is contradictory to the benefits provided by switches, as they are designed to support higher throughput and faster data transfer compared to hubs.