What is the maximum number of VLANs that can be supported by a standard switch?

A standard Ethernet switch typically supports up to 4096 VLANs, which corresponds to the maximum number of VLAN identifiers (VIDs) that can be assigned within the IEEE 802.1Q tagging protocol. VLANs are identified by a 12-bit number, allowing for values ranging from 0 to 4095. However, VLAN 0 is reserved for priority tagging, and VLAN 4095 is often reserved for internal use by the switch. Consequently, the usable VLAN range is actually from 1 to 4094, but the capability for addressing allows up to 4096 potential VLANs.

This understanding is crucial for network design and implementation, as it addresses how switches handle traffic segmentation, isolation, and management on a local area network (LAN). Therefore, recognizing the limit of 4096 VLANs helps network professionals effectively plan their network architecture without exceeding the capabilities of the devices in use.