What is the primary significance of the "native VLAN" in VLAN tagging?

The primary significance of the "native VLAN" in VLAN tagging is that it is designated to handle untagged frames on a trunk link. In a switched network using IEEE 802.1Q encapsulation, trunk links are used to carry traffic for multiple VLANs between switches. Typically, these trunk links send tagged frames that identify the VLAN a frame belongs to. However, frames that do not have VLAN tags are sent as part of the native VLAN.

When a switch receives an untagged frame, it assumes that this frame belongs to the native VLAN configured on that trunk port. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of managing untagged traffic, ensuring that it is appropriately assigned to the native VLAN. This is essential for maintaining proper communication and ensuring that no traffic is dropped when it arrives without a VLAN tag on a trunk link.