What distinguishes a standard switch from a bridge?

The correct answer highlights that switches effectively multiply the network's bandwidth. This is because switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, allowing them to receive, process, and forward data packets to the appropriate destination ports based on MAC addresses. This capability enables simultaneous communication between multiple devices on the network without collisions, thus enhancing overall network efficiency and effectively increasing the available bandwidth.

In contrast, bridges primarily serve to connect two or more network segments, filtering traffic between them but without the advanced functionality of switches. Bridges typically handle traffic less efficiently, and their ability to manage multiple simultaneous connections is limited compared to the capabilities of switches. Therefore, while both switches and bridges connect devices in a network, switches provide a more robust solution for managing bandwidth, which is why option B is the correct distinction.