Why is it important for switches to manage MAC address tables?

Switches manage MAC address tables to reduce unnecessary broadcasts and enhance network efficiency. This function is critical in a switched network because switches use the MAC address table to make intelligent forwarding decisions. When a switch receives a frame, it examines the source MAC address and adds it to its MAC address table, which maps MAC addresses to switch ports. This allows the switch to direct future frames addressed to a specific MAC address out of the correct port, rather than flooding all ports with the frame.

By keeping track of device locations through their MAC addresses, switches minimize broadcast traffic. Without this management, a switch would have to broadcast every frame to all ports, resulting in excessive network traffic and reduced overall performance. Thus, effectively managing MAC address tables ensures that traffic remains efficient, targeted, and reduces the load on network resources.