do switches broadcast packets?

[oasisbhrnw]

Lets say I have a home network consisting of 4 computers connected to one switch. When I send traffic to the switch, does the switch send those packets out to every other computer on the switch (and let them check if they need to process it), or do the packets only get sent to the computer that it is addressed to?

 

[mikesgroovin]

The packet is sent only to the computer that it's ment for. You can broadcast over a switch with certain communication perameters and other software. But normal peer to peer and server client communication over a switch only goes to the intended recipient. The switch keeps a table of MAC addresses on whatever port it's on.
Now, a hub, on the other hand will broadcast to all connected nodes.