In the context of VLANs, what is the difference between access ports and trunk ports?

The correct choice describes the fundamental roles of access ports and trunk ports in the context of VLANs. Access ports are designed to connect individual end devices, such as computers or printers, and they are configured to carry traffic exclusively for a single VLAN. This means that any device connected via an access port will only communicate within that specific VLAN, ensuring the separation of broadcast domains and maintaining network segmentation.

On the other hand, trunk ports serve a different purpose. They are used to connect switches or other network devices that need to carry traffic for multiple VLANs simultaneously. A trunk port can encapsulate VLAN information and carry traffic from many different VLANs over a single connection. This is achieved through various encapsulation methods, such as IEEE 802.1Q, which tags frames with the appropriate VLAN identifiers as they traverse the trunk link.

The distinction is crucial in VLAN configurations, as it determines how devices communicate within the network. Therefore, the assertion that access ports carry traffic for a single VLAN while trunk ports carry traffic for multiple VLANs is accurate and reflects the core functionality of each port type. This distinction helps in designing efficient and well-structured VLANs within a network.