What is the Difference Between CSMA CD and CSMA CA?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection) and CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance) lies in how they handle collisions in data transmission:
- Collision Detection: CSMA/CD detects collisions after they occur and tries to recover from them. It operates in the medium access control layer and senses whether the shared channel is busy before broadcasting. If a collision is detected, the transmission is stopped, and the device waits for a random time before retransmitting the data frame.
- Collision Avoidance: CSMA/CA avoids collisions before they occur by using a handshake mechanism. It is also operated in the medium access control layer, but unlike CSMA/CD, it is effective before a collision. When two devices try to send frames at once, CSMA/CA sends a request (RTS) and waits for a confirmation (CTS) before transmitting the data frame.
Some other differences between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA include:
- Efficiency: CSMA/CD is more efficient than simple CSMA, while CSMA/CA is similar in efficiency to simple CSMA.
- Network Type: CSMA/CD is generally used in wired networks, whereas CSMA/CA is commonly used in wireless networks.
- IEEE Standards: CSMA/CD follows the IEEE 802.3 standard, also known as Ethernet, while CSMA/CA follows the IEEE 802.11 standard, also known as WLAN.
In summary, CSMA/CD deals with collisions after their occurrence, whereas CSMA/CA prevents collisions prior to their occurrence.
Comparative Table: CSMA CD vs CSMA CA
Here is a table comparing the differences between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA:
| Feature | CSMA/CD | CSMA/CA |
|---|---|---|
| Collision Handling | Detects collisions after they occur and tries to resolve them. | Prevents collisions by using specific reservation mechanisms. |
| Effectiveness | Effective after a collision. | Effective before a collision. |
| Network Type | Used in wired networks. | Commonly used in wireless networks. |
| Recovery Time | Only reduces the recovery time. | Minimizes the possibility of collision. |
| Data Transmission | Resends the data frame whenever a conflict occurs. | Transmits the intent to send data before data transmission. |
| IEEE Standard | Defined by IEEE standard 802.3 (Ethernet). | Defined by IEEE standard 802.11 (WLAN). |
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) is a network protocol that detects collisions during transmissions and tries to resolve them. It is used in wired networks and is defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard.
CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) is a network protocol that tries to prevent collisions by using specific reservation mechanisms. It is commonly used in wireless networks and is defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard.